Late free-kick hero tilts it for Lorient against Nantes | OneFootball

Arsène Kouassi bent a left-footed free-kick into the top left corner in the 89th minute to give Lorient a 2-1 win over Nantes.

The midfielder struck with precision from set piece range, wrapping his left boot around the ball and finding the angle Anthony Lopes could not reach. The technique and timing decided a tight game.

His intervention stood up after a VAR review in the third minute of second half stoppage time cancelled Kelvin Amian's late finish, preserving the advantage and ensuring Lorient's pressure told at the death.

Kouassi backed up the moment with control and bite: he completed 23 of 26 passes, was fouled three times and registered 46 touches, plus one accurate cross from four. The numbers underlined how he mixed secure distribution with end product when it mattered most.

That blend of set piece quality and calm on the ball gave Lorient a reliable outlet on the left, keeping Les Canaris pinned back in the closing stages and allowing the hosts to manage the key phases.

Lorient host Paris FC in the Coupe de France next. Les Canaris host Lyon next.