Sports
LENS beat Nice to win the Coupe de France for the first time in their 120-year history.
Cgave them a 25th-minute lead at the Stade de France in Paris with a low strike into the bottom corner, before former Celtic and Crystal Palace forward Odsonne Edouard doubled the advantage with a header three minutes before half-time.
Nice replied through 17-year-old midfielder Djibril Coulibaly in first-half injury-time with a flicked header on his first domestic start.
His side created more chances in the second half and twice hit the woodwork, but Lens substitute Abdallah Sima pounced on a defensive mix-up in the 78th minute to wrap up victory.
Lens’ maiden French Cup is their first major trophy since a League Cup triumph in 1999, following on from their only title success in the previous campaign.
They finished second this season in Ligue 1, six points behind champions Paris St-Germain, who suffered a shock defeat to neighbours Paris FC in the last 32.
Nice are four-time French champions, but have not won silverware since lifting the French Cup in 1997.
The club owned by Ineos – the company of Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe – are managed by ex-Southampton and Leicester City boss Claude Puel and finished 16th in Ligue 1, one place and nine points above the relegation zone.
BBCSport
A.I
May 23, 20
Tags: CLAUDE Puel Djibril Coulibaly Lens beat Nice to win Odsonne Edouard