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- Lens 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain: Thauvin clinches Trophee des Champions
Lens 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain: Thauvin clinches Trophee des Champions
Paris Saint-Germain could not win a fifth straight Trophee des Champions, with Florian Thauvin helping Lens to the trophy.
Florian Thauvin's first-half goal clinched the Trophee des Champions for 10-man Lens as they edged Paris Saint-Germain 1-0.
Last season's Coupe de France winners had Kyllian Antonio sent off just seven minutes after their 32nd-minute goal.
Fabian Ruiz saw a goal disallowed for offside late on before Nuno Mendes was also shown a straight red card, but even late drama did not stop Lens from lifting the trophy for the first time.
PSG started strong, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia seeing an early effort saved, with Maghnes Akliouche also firing off target as they failed to find an opener.
In the 32nd minute, Matthieu Udol scuffed a shot well wide, but Thauvin had stayed onside and raced onto the loose ball to coolly slot past Matvey Safonov.
Moments later, Lens were dealt a blow as Antonio was shown a straight red card after sliding in late on Akliouche, leading with his studs.
Desire Doue came closest to taking advantage of PSG's numerical advantage on the stroke of half-time, hitting the corner of the goalframe from a tight angle on the right of the box.
PSG continued to push for an equaliser after the break, and it looked like Fabian had pulled PSG level in the 77th minute after he coolly knocked his low effort past Robin Risser, but an offside in the build-up cut his celebrations short.
Dembele then blazed over from point-blank range, while Mendes received his marching orders in the 87th minute after catching Michal Skoras with his elbow.
And with a level playing field once again, Lens pushed forward in search of a second and thought they had found it through Udol's diving header.
He beat Safonov from close range, but the referee's whistle had already gone for a foul earlier in the move, much to Lens' frustration, even if it mattered little in the end.
Toppmoller finds winning formula to end PSG's dominance
Lens were PSG's closest challengers in the Ligue 1 title race last season, but ultimately finished six points behind the champions. They still capped a stunning season with their Coupe de France triumph.
That was under Pierre Sage, but now under Dino Toppmoller, they have got their hands on more silverware, and it is a first-time victory in the Trophee des Champions.
They had only contested this match once before, back in 1998, losing 1-0 to PSG on that occasion, but they flipped that script this time around.
PSG had won this trophy in each of the last four seasons and were chasing a record-extending 15th triumph, but despite racking up 22 shots worth 1.47 expected goals (xG), they could not find a way through Lens.
Luis Enrique's side have already lifted the Super Cup this week, but they will be disappointed not to get their hands on more silverware given their record over the last two campaigns.
As for Lens, they dug in and remained dogged after playing nearly an hour with a man disadvantage, but Toppmoller can take a lot of confidence into the new season, where they will be determined to go toe-to-toe with PSG once more.









