Moses Simon masterclass not enough for Nantes triumph at Lens

The Super Eagles winger turned on the front burner, but it proved insufficient to lead the Canaries to another league win

Nigerian attacker Moses Simon delivered another excellent display as a late Nantes collapse allowed ten-man Lens to draw 2-2 in a matchday 35 Ligue 1 encounter at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday.

In a man-of-the-match performance, Simon grabbed both of Nantes’ goals against their hosts in the first half to prepare the ground for what looked to be a comfortable afternoon for the Canaries.

But despite playing more than 70 minutes with ten men, following the 19th-minute dismissal of Jean-Louis Leca, Lens fought back bravely after the interval to earn a share of the spoils.

The 2021-22 season, however, continues to get better for Simon.

After going six league games without contributing a goal or an assist across March and April, Simon switched on the extra burners with three goals and an assist in his last two games.

The Nigeria international’s goal and assist were crucial to lifting Nantes to a 5-3 victory over Bordeaux last weekend before his brilliant brace earned a point for the Canaries at Lens.

Simon now has six league goals this season – the same number of goals he recorded in 33 games last campaign – matching his best scoring campaign in Europe’s top five leagues.

Simon’s 13 goals during the 2014/15 season remain his best return in Europe, though; the 26-year-old netted six goals for Trencin in the first half of the campaign before he switched to Gent, where he smashed in another seven in 17 matches.