Ligue 1: Metz Stun Lens with Late Penalty and Injury-Time Goal

Hein's brace secures dramatic win for Metz over Lens

Metz secures a dramatic 1-0 win over Lens with Gauthier Hein scoring a penalty and an injury-time goal, ending their winless streak.

Metz continued to squander opportunities after the restart, with goalkeeper Robin Risser...

Metz finally broke their winless streak in the 10th attempt, thanks to a late brace from Gauthier Hein that secured a 2-0 victory over Lens. The win was a surprise to many, given Lens's strong form in recent weeks.

Lens had been riding high on the back of three consecutive Ligue 1 wins, but they were unable to replicate that form against Metz. Despite dominating the opening exchanges, they were unable to create a clear-cut chance until the second half.

Gauthier Hein's late brace was the decisive factor in the match, with the striker scoring in the 87th and 90+1st minutes to seal the win for Metz. The victory marked a significant turnaround for the hosts, who had been struggling to find form this season.

The win marked Metz's first victory of the season, and it came against a Lens side that had been expected to win comfortably. Metz's defensive solidity and Hein's clinical finishing proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Odsonne Edouard posed a significant threat to the visitors' defense, making two notable appearances at the far post. However, he failed to capitalize on his chances, shooting tamely into Jonathan Fischer's arms on the first attempt and completely missing the target a few minutes later.

Edouard's missed opportunities allowed the hosts to gain momentum, and they should have taken the lead before halftime. Koffi Kouao made an impact on the right flank, getting a shot away that, although speculative, tested Robin Risser. The goalkeeper parried the ball into the path of Habib Diallo, but the striker's shot sailed wide with the goal open.

Just before halftime, Cheikh Sabaly had a promising opportunity, but he inexplicably botched a potential tap-in at the far post, sending the ball back into the box instead. Maxime Colin also had a chance, but his curling effort sailed just wide of the target.

The match was heading towards a goalless draw until a penalty five minutes from time changed the course of the game. Ibou Sané's clever run behind the Lens defense ended with a foul from Saud Abdulhamid, and Gauthier Hein calmly scored from the spot, finding the top corner to give Metz the lead.

In the injury time, Hein sealed the win with a clinical finish, ending a slick counter-attack. Although he was shown a second yellow card for taking his shirt off in celebration, the goal was enough to secure all three points for Metz.

🏁 C'est terminé à Metz. Dans une soirée où il n'est pas parvenu à montrer son visage habituel, le Racing s'incline après une série de cinq matchs sans défaite. @FCMetz 2⃣-0⃣ RC Lens#FCMRCL pic.twitter.com/Tn6v0k5gIu

— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) October 29, 2025

Metz continued to squander opportunities after the restart, with goalkeeper Robin Risser making a crucial fingertip save to deny Habib Diallo's header, which was set up by a precise cross from Giorgi Tsitaishvili.

The Lens defense was rescued by Jonathan Gradit's acrobatic goalline clearance, which blocked Jean-Philippe Gbamin's goalbound effort on the follow-up from the resulting corner kick.

Metz pulled off a significant upset, securing a 2-0 victory over Lens and staying at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table. Meanwhile, Lens suffered their first loss in six matches, missing the opportunity to take the top spot. Gauthier Hein scored both goals for Metz, with the winner coming in the 87th minute and another in the 90th minute, showcasing his clinical finishing.