Lens Advances to French Cup Semifinals After Penalty Shootout

The Ligue 1 club overcame a comeback by Lyon to reach the final four of the prestigious domestic cup competition.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Lens, a club playing in France's top division Ligue 1, advanced to the semifinals of the French Cup after defeating Lyon in a penalty shootout. The match was tied 1-1 after regulation, forcing the game to be decided from the penalty spot.

Why it matters

The French Cup is one of the most prestigious domestic cup competitions in European soccer, and reaching the semifinals is a significant achievement for Lens, a club that has been on the rise in recent seasons in Ligue 1.

The details

After the match was tied 1-1 following regulation, the two teams went to a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Lens was able to convert their penalties and prevail, booking their spot in the final four of the French Cup.

  • The match took place on Thursday, March 6, 2026.

The players

Lens

A professional soccer club that plays in Ligue 1, the top division of French soccer.

Lyon

A professional soccer club that also plays in Ligue 1, the top division of French soccer.

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The takeaway

Lens' victory over Lyon in the French Cup quarterfinals is a testament to the club's strong season and their ability to compete with the top teams in France. The penalty shootout win will give the club confidence as they look to make a deep run in the prestigious domestic cup competition.