MONTPELLIER, France — In a dramatic Ligue 1 clash on Friday, the encounter between Montpellier and Lens was marked by the dismissal of both coaches for obstructing the referee’s view of the video review monitor. The match concluded with Lens claiming a 2-0 victory, solidifying their position in the upper tier of the league standings.

The incident unfolded 26 minutes into the game, with Lens leading 1-0 following an early goal. Referee issued red cards to Jean-Louis Gasset from Montpellier and Will Still from Lens as they impeded the official’s access to the pitch-side monitor, which was used to assess a disallowed second goal for Lens. This unusual turn of events left both coaches bewildered, yet it did not alter the outcome of the match, marking a setback for Montpellier, who had been enjoying a resurgence in performance.

The game’s opening goal was scored just one minute in by M’Bala Nzola, the fastest goal recorded in Ligue 1 this season. Lens then extended their lead an hour into the match with a goal from Jeremy Agbonifo, who was making his debut. With this victory, Lens climbed past Lyon and Lille to secure the fifth position in the league, tied on points with Nice, the team directly above them.

On the flip side, Montpellier finds themselves in a precarious position, sitting second from the bottom of the league table, just two points clear of Le Havre. Le Havre is set to face Angers in their match on Sunday, adding further pressure to Montpellier as they seek to improve their standings.