Lens produced a dramatic late comeback to claim a 3-2 victory away at Slavia Prague in the Champions League, overturning the deficit twice before scoring two goals in stoppage time to complete an extraordinary turnaround at the Fortuna Arena.
The French side found themselves needing to fight from behind on more than one occasion during the contest, with Slavia Prague twice taking the lead only for Lens to respond and level the scoreheet. The Czech hosts were reduced to ten men during the match, a numerical disadvantage that ultimately proved costly as the visitors capitalised in the closing stages.
With the game seemingly destined for a share of the points or a home victory, Lens showed remarkable resilience in the additional minutes added on at the end of the match. The French club found the net twice in stoppage time, turning what had been a tense and unpredictable encounter into a famous away triumph in Europe's premier club competition.
The result represents a significant statement from Lens on the continental stage, showcasing their determination and ability to fight until the final whistle even when facing a stubborn Slavia Prague side on their own turf. Playing against ten men for a portion of the match ultimately worked in favour of the visitors, who made the extra man count when it mattered most.
For Slavia Prague, the defeat will sting given they had led the match at multiple points before Lens completed their comeback in such dramatic fashion. The sending off proved a turning point that shifted momentum in favour of the French visitors, who kept pushing forward even as the clock ticked down.
The late goals underline the never-say-die attitude Lens have shown in this campaign, with the stoppage-time strikes securing all three points in a match that had appeared to be slipping away from them. Such comebacks are rare in continental competition, making this victory all the more notable for a Lens side looking to make an impression in the Champions League.
The scenes at full time reflected the drama of the closing exchanges, with Lens players celebrating wildly after snatching victory from what had looked like a difficult night in Prague. The three points will be a major boost for the club as they continue their European campaign, while Slavia Prague will need to reflect on how they let a lead slip so late on against ten... rather, while playing with ten men themselves, they could not hold on.
The match at the Fortuna Arena will be remembered as one of the more chaotic and thrilling encounters of this season's Champions League group stage, with the twin fightbacks from Lens and the eventual stoppage-time winner providing a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in knockout and group football alike.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.