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Nantes are through to the Coupe De France semi-final after beating Lens 2-1.
Nantes have secured qualification to the semi-finals of the Coupe De France with a 2-1 win at home to in-form Lens thanks to two goals by Andy Delort.
The home side were without a win in four games preceding this one and had lost three consecutive games so they were underdogs against a Lens team that had only lost twice 8since October 2022.
Nigerian international Moses Simon came off the bench in the 74th minute with Nantes already 2-1 up and helped his team to preserve the victory.
Nantes 2-1 Lens
The game at the Stade de la Beaujoire started in frantic fashion with both teams creating chances early on but the crucial end product missing.
The breakthrough finally came in the 28th minute when Seko Fofana connected with a cross from Jonathan Gradit to put it into the left corner to put Lens ahead.
The away team's joy was cut short almost immediately when defender Julien Le Cardinal committed a rough challenge which led to a penalty being awarded one minute later.
French striker Andy Delort made no mistake from the penalty spot after waiting for Jean-Louis Leca to move before rolling the ball into the middle of the goal to level proceedings for Nantes.
Neither team had any more significant moments in the first half but the battle for supremacy continued until the second period when Nantes got another penalty.
Lens goalkeeper Leca was trying to get to the ball but clattered into the legs of the opponent which led to the referee pointing to the spot.
Delort stepped up to convert in the 59th minute and put Nantes up in the game and set the tone for a potential advancement to the semi-finals.
Nigerian winger Simon came on in the 74th minute in a bid to help Nantes keep the win and they did exactly that, knocking Lens out of the Coupe De France.
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