Le Havre loses against Lens and sinks into crisis

The French championship continues its journey. This Sunday, January 12, Havre Athletic Club faced Racing Club de Lens for the seventeenth day of Ligue 1. At the end of a hard-fought match, the Lensois won over the smallest of the margins (2-1) against a disappointing Le Havre team. On the one hand, the Norman club is sinking into the red zone (17th with 12 pts). On the other hand, the Artesian club is relaunching in the race for Europe (7th with 27 pts).

A balanced first act

Le Havre Athletic Club, which had an excellent start to the match, logically opened the scoring in the first minutes of the match. With a very good recovery at 25 meters, Joujou progresses and manages to cross. The ball is messed up in the Lens area after a superb save from Koffi but Ayew, perfectly placed, manages to score (1-0, 8th). The response from Racing Club de Lens arrived four minutes later. On the right, Frankowski sends a very good cross which is caught by Fulgini’s head. Desmas intervenes vigilantly and seizes the ball (12th).

The Norman club was close to taking the break twenty-two minutes from the end of regulation time in the first act. Problem, Salmier’s attempt is off target. Finally, the Lens equalizer arrived shortly before the half-hour mark. On the right, Sotoca was alerted and released a magnificent cross for Koyalipou, all alone at the penalty spot and author of a victorious header. Desmas is powerless (1-1, 28th).

Ax free the RC Lens

From the first seconds of the second half, Racing Club de Lens was close to taking the advantage. The very good collective movement of the Lensois concluded with a shot from Zaroury pushed back by Desmas… on Thomasson, who shot at point-blank range. On the trajectory, Lloris clears the ball on his line in disaster (47th). Shortly before the hour mark, Koyalipou serves Sotoca behind, whose recovery of the right to the ground is well captured by Desmas, vigilant on his line (54th). Thirteen minutes from the end of regulation time, the Lensois were logically rewarded. Frankowski overflows onto the right wing and delivers a superb cross which is picked up by Machado’s victorious header (1-2, 77th). Behind, Didier Digard’s men tried to react… in vain. The referee, Clément Turpin, ended the match after five minutes of added time (90’+5).