Prolific striker Jonathan David proved to be the thorn in Lens' side once again, as his stoppage-time penalty gave Lille the lead in the highly anticipated Derby of the North on Saturday. The Canadian forward's spot-kick broke the deadlock in a fiery match that had seen both teams create scoring opportunities, only to be denied by solid defending and goalkeeping throughout the 90 minutes.
The sold-out Stade Bollaert-Delelis was electric, with the passionate Lens supporters hoping to see their team claim bragging rights in the derby. However, it was not meant to be, as Lille's captain and in-form striker David had other plans. His 25-yard sprint into the penalty area just before the end of normal time was dramatically halted by an unfortunate foul, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot without hesitation.
With the home fans in a mix of anger and despair, David stepped up to the penalty spot and, without hesitation, blasted his shot past the diving Lens goalkeeper. Pandemonium broke out in the Lille half of the stadium as the away supporters celebrated their team taking a vital lead in the dying minutes.
There was still time for another twist in the final minutes of the match. Lille's David Henchoz put the final nail in the coffin for Lens, as he doubled his team's lead with an equally impressive counter-attacking play. It sealed the match for Lille, giving them a 2-0 victory over their arch-rivals in the highly competitive league.
Lille's manager, Paulo Fonseca, was overjoyed at the final whistle, acknowledging his side's resilience and ability to snatch victory from the jaws of a scoreless stalemate. 'We've worked really hard to earn our success this season, and today we reaped the rewards with two goals at the death', he gushed in the post-match interview.
Meanwhile, the defeat marked a crucial setback for Lens, who remain just outside the league's top-half. Lens' manager, Franck Haise, called upon his players to pick themselves up from the disappointment, saying, 'There are plenty of games remaining this season. We'll dust ourselves off and refocus our efforts to get back on track.'
The thrilling victory sees Lille leapfrog their opponents in the league standings, strengthening their ambitions for European football next season. And with wins like this one, the 'Dogs' - affectionately nicknamed for their fierce determination and competitive spirit - will undoubtedly send shivers down the spines of their league rivals for the remainder of the campaign.