Lenny Lacroix, Dijon’s Defender, Forced to Play as Goalkeeper
Dijon’s defender, Lenny Lacroix, will remember this for the rest of his life. The former Metz player had to spend over an hour in goal for his team against Aubagne in a match for the 25th round of the National league. The starting goalkeeper, Paul Delecroix, got injured during the game.
After a collision with Aubagne’s forward Enzo Mayilla during a corner, the goalkeeper dislocated his shoulder just before the half-hour mark. Despite the medical staff’s efforts, he had to leave the field. Half-naked on the field after handing his jersey to his replacement, the former FC Metz goalkeeper left the pitch almost smiling, amid applause from the Gaston-Gérard stadium.
National league clubs are only allowed five substitutes on the bench, so many coaches choose not to call up a second goalkeeper for league matches. This time, the Dijon team had to improvise with a field player in goal. The game resumed after about ten minutes of interruption.
Lacroix, playing as a goalkeeper for the first time in his career, also conceded his first career goal. He was partially at fault for Enzo Mayilla’s ground-level shot after the hour mark (65th minute).
Dijon, who had taken the lead early in the match, managed to miraculously secure a victory in the final moments. Former Cannes player, Julien Domingues, converted a penalty in injury time to give his team the lead (90th + 3 minute).
As the National league leaders, Dijon now holds a one-point lead over their closest competitors, Sochaux and Rouen. The win was crucial for Dijon, who can thank their hero of the night, Lenny Lacroix.
[Context: Lenny Lacroix, a field player, had to step in as a goalkeeper for his team, Dijon, during a National league match after the starting goalkeeper got injured. Despite conceding a goal, Dijon managed to secure a victory in the end.]
[Fact Check: The information presented in the article should be verified through official sources to confirm the details of the match and player performances.]
