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Lens produced the performance of the season so far on Saturday, hammering the previously unbeaten Auxerre 7-0 at the Stade Félix-Bollaert.
Star striker Aruna Dindane was missing but it hardly mattered to Lens, who demolished Jacques Santini’s team in stunning fashion. Daniel Cousin, Olivier Thomert and Jussie all scored braces, while Yohan Demont was also on target for Les Sang et Or, who warmed up for their Intertoto Cup final second leg against Cluj in perfect fashion.
With nine points from four matches, Lens move to second in the table tonight, a point above Lyon. Paris Saint-Germain can reclaim top spot by winning at Troyes on Sunday.
Jérôme Leroy’s brilliant long pass to Cousin set up the opening goal on 11 minutes, the striker running on and hitting a firm cross-shot past Fabien Cool. The Auxerre defence was far too passive early on, and minutes later it was two. Brazilian youngster Jussie jinked past three tackles before striking a low cross to Thomert who crashed the ball home at the far post.
Thomert, who was rumoured to be on his way out before the transfer window closes, duly scored his second of the night before the break. The goal was similar to the first – this time Benoit Assou-Ekotto applied the cross and Thomert was again strangely free at the far post to score.
Auxerre’s new signing Peguy Luyindula must have been wondering what he had let himself in for as he watched from the substitutes’ bench, but it got worse for the visitors after the break.
Cousin scored his second of the night 11 minutes into the second period, again thanks to a brilliant Leroy pass, then Jussie got in on the act, heading in a Cousin cross.
Lens' summer signing Demont headed in a sixth, as Leroy chalked up his third assist of the night, before Jussie joined Cousin and Thomert on two goals for the night. The final goal summed up Auxerre’s disastrous night, as Philippe Violeau handed it on a plate to Jussie, miscuing his pass-back to Cool and allowing the striker to romp through and score.
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