Lance started the 2023-2024 season disastrously, but their victory yesterday, Tuesday, 2-1 against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League confirmed that last season's French league runners-up are back on the right track, led by promising striker Elye Wahi.
Lance collected only one point from their first five matches in Ligue 1, but the deserved 1-1 draw against Sevilla in the opening match of Group B served as motivation. They followed that up with victories over Toulouse and Strasbourg, where striker Wahi, who joined from Montpellier during the summer transfer window to replace Louis Openda after the Belgian striker's departure to RB Leipzig, scored his first goal.
The 20-year-old showcased glimpses of his immense talent against Sevilla and delivered a fine performance yesterday, assisting his teammate Adrien Thomasson for the equalizer and scoring the winning goal in the 69th minute.
Coach Franck Haise stated, "I told you before that Wahi is on the right path. He arrived a month and a half ago and is making great strides. He scored the winning goal in Strasbourg last Friday and scored the winner tonight. He shows us that he is a heavyweight striker."
Wahi commented on his goal, saying, "The harmony with my teammates has increased. I knew where (Brzemiślaw Franćkovski) would pass the ball." Thomasson noted, "We can say that the Sevilla match was a turning point. The team regained its rhythm, and we have once again become a team that is difficult to play against."
Meanwhile, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta lamented his team's lack of focus and effectiveness both defensively and offensively, while Lance's standout players on the field were Wahi and goalkeeper Brice Samba. Samba made several key saves, notably stopping a threatening attempt from Takehiro Tomiyasu.
This result places Lance at the top of Group B with four points, one point ahead of Arsenal, while Sevilla occupies third place with two points after drawing 2-2 with Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
