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Lens rally but title bid fades after draw at Brest / Photo: © AFP
Lens rally but title bid fades after draw at Brest
Lens fought back from three goals down to earn a 3–3 draw at Brest on Friday, but the result all but extinguished their hopes of prising the Ligue 1 title away from Paris Saint‑Germain.
Daouda Guindo's arrowed low drive from distance gave Brest an early lead, which Lucas Tousart doubled with a towering header midway through the first half.
Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe slotted home a third before half-time, leaving Lens staring down the barrel just days after they had booked their place in the French Cup final.
Florian Thauvin capitalised on a loose pass to haul Lens back into the contest on the hour, before Abdallah Sima swept home a cross just four minutes later to continue the revival.
Lens snatched a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time when Alain Saint‑Maximin unleashed a 20-yard strike.
The visitors almost completed an improbable turnaround with the final kick of the game, but Saud Abdulhamid blazed over after Odsonne Edouard's header had been saved by Brest goalkeeper Gregoire Coudert.
The draw leaves Lens four points adrift of leaders PSG, who have two games in hand. PSG travel to Angers on Saturday before turning their attention to the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich next week.
Pierre Sage's side host PSG on May 13 but, barring an unlikely collapse from the European champions, Lens appear destined to finish runners-up for the second time in four seasons.
V.J. Coelho--JDB
