Ethan Nwaneri scored a wonder goal on his debut as Marseille beat Lens 3-1 in Ligue 1.

Marseille delivered a convincing performance in Ligue 1's 19th round, defeating Lens 3-1 at home at the Orange Velodrome. The biggest highlight of the match came from new signing Ethan Nwaneri – a young talent on loan from Arsenal – who scored a spectacular long-range goal on his debut in the French league.

Ethan Nwaneri's fiery beginning and impactful career.

Spurred on by the enthusiastic home crowd, Marseille started the match proactively and quickly capitalized on their advantage with the opening goal in the 3rd minute. Amine Gouiri scored with a cool finish after a precise assist from Igor Paixao. The early goal gave the players at the Velodrome stadium a boost of confidence, allowing them to continuously press and disrupt Lens' defense.

By the 13th minute, all eyes were on Ethan Nwaneri. In his debut for Marseille, the 2007-born player showcased his skillful individual technique before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot from outside the penalty area. The ball went low into the left corner of the net, leaving the opposing goalkeeper completely helpless and extending the lead to 2-0.

Lens's deadlock against Marseille's midfield.

Trailing by two goals quickly, Lens were forced to push forward in search of a goal. However, they faced fierce resistance from the home team's midfield. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg played outstandingly in his role as a playmaker, not only providing effective defensive support but also consistently delivering sharp attacking passes.

Lens's deadlock was evident in the unnecessary fouls committed due to psychological frustration. Both Wesley Said and former Marseille player Florian Thauvin received yellow cards for overly aggressive challenges.

Amine Gouiri completed his brace and secured the overall victory.

In the second half, Marseille deliberately slowed down the pace of the game, waiting for opportunities to counter-attack when their opponents pushed forward. Although Lens made several substitutions, bringing on Adrien Thomasson and Florian Sotoca, the effect was negligible. The visitors' hopes of getting a point were officially dashed in the 75th minute.

From a well-placed pass by Timothy Weah, Amine Gouiri was in the right place at the right time to complete his brace, making the score 3-0. Lens' late efforts only resulted in a consolation goal in the 85th minute, scored by Rayan Fofana, after a precise finish from a through ball by Mamadou Sangare.

The match ended with a 3-1 victory for Marseille. The three points helped them solidify their position in the top three of Ligue 1. Conversely, Lens missed the opportunity to put pressure on PSG at the top of the table.

Thanh Vinh