Decisive figure strikes late to lift Lille | OneFootball

Nathan Ngoy won it in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time with a right-footed finish from a corner, giving Lille a 1-0 win over Nantes.

In the 79th minute, the centre-back stepped out and saw a right-footed effort from outside the box blocked after combining with Soriba Diaoune. It prefaced his growing influence at both ends.

Then came the decisive act against Les Canaris, as he arrived to sweep in Thomas Meunier's delivery following a corner. The defender's timing from the second phase proved clinical.

Ngoy finished with two attempts, one on target, plus four clearances. He also completed 86 of 87 passes and made four successful final third passes, a calm distribution line that underpinned Lille's control.

His willingness to carry and pass from the back repeatedly punched lanes into midfield, ensuring Lille's structure fed sustained pressure until the late payoff.

Lille rise from sixth to fifth in Ligue 1 and host Lorient next. Les Canaris face Angers.