Lens back in the danger zone

By: Jay | February 25th, 2008

Quietly, lens have slipped back near the relegation zone and coach Jean-Pierre Papin once again finds himself in a spot of bother.

The Lensois produced the first chance of the game in the sixth minute when shining Nadir Belhadj released Eric Carriere on the left to set up the red hot Kader Mangane, who applied a terrific header only to be denied by an equally impressive save from Nancy’s erratic keeper Gennaro Bracigliano.

Benjamin Gavanon’s corner for the hosts then found Moroccan international stalwart Youssef Hadji, but the striker’s header was parried wide by a nervous Vedran Runje.

Nancy’s dangerous Brazilian striker Carlos Henrique Kim then tested Runje, who managed again to deny the hosts. But the overrated Croatian looked shaken and it would only be a matter of time before he gave one up.

Lens took the lead in the 41st minute when Mangane and Carriere beautifully exchanged passes and the impressive Senegalese midfielder applied an unstoppable volley to give the blood and gold a half-time lead. Mangane once again proved he deserved to start. Unfortunately, Papin and Lens fans’ nauseating love affair with the pathetic Nenad Kovacevic has kept Mangane’s rising star pinned firmly on the bench when he should be dominating the midfield alongside Sidi Keita on a regular basis.

The Lensois had an excellent chance to double their lead shortly after the break when the super talented substitute Razak Boukari found legendary Aruna “danger man” Dindane just back from the African Cup of Nations but Bracigliano was somehow equal to the great Ivorian’s volley.

And the Italian’s save proved essential as Berenguer met Moroccan international Mickael Chretien’s corner to head home his side level in the 73rd minute.

The hosts would complete their comeback victory a mere four minutes later when substitute Moncaf Zerka another Moroccan international, found the incomperable Hadji in the box, who fired home the winner past the flailing pathetic figure of Runje.

So once again the Lensois find themselves in terrible danger with a dangerous Le Mans side looming and the dreaded prospect of relegation that this season’s Lensois simply can’t seem to shake.