Vincent Dégremont, Media365, published on Sunday January 19, 2025 at 7:27 p.m.
And seven for Reims. Held in check by Le Havre on Sunday (1-1, 18th day), the Champagne club went on to a seventh match without a win in Ligue 1. The red zone is still at four points.
This poster between two tough teams would perhaps revive one, while weighing down the other. Reims had not won in the league since a trip to Stade Océane in November, when the visitors suffered five consecutive losses. After an observation round of around ten minutes, the locals confiscated the ball, cornering Le Havre in their 30 meters. Didier Digard's defense, however, did not concede any chances. Then Marshall Munetsi went to hinder Mathieu Gorgelin with a poorly returned cross, thus forcing the new number 1 of the HAC to slam above his crossbar.
We were then playing the 26th. Kicked by Junya Ito, the corner was extended with a header to the near post by Valentin Atangana. Free from any marking in the second, Munetsi volleyed to the bottom (1-0, 26th)! Without inspiration, Le Havre then looked for a second wind and offensive momentum. Despite the encouragement of their staff, they did not manage to endanger an opposing block in management until the break.
-Sanganté, the soul of the HAC
Brought back into the locker room by Didier Digard, the visitors got their foot on the ball after the restart, just as sterilely as at the end of the first act. We were rather close to 2-0 in the 52nd minute, when the interception of a poor Le Havre restart almost benefited Keito Nakamura, whose sudden strike from 16 meters flirted with the base of the left post. However, too nonchalant, the locals were surprised in the 67th, on a corner kicked by Yanis Zouaoui. Y. Diouf first repelled Issa Soumaré's header, then Gauthier Lloris' backheel. The Reims goalkeeper was, however, powerless on Arouna Sanganté's third billiard shot (1-1, 67th).
An equalizer rewarding the great attitude of the Seinomarin captain, who constantly harangued his partners after setting an example by winning his right-back duels. Like the hare in the fable, the locals started pushing again a little late. Deflected by Zouaoui, a cross shot from incoming Sergio Akieme almost surprised Gorgelin in the 87th minute, but the HAC goalkeeper managed the reflex save needed to hold the match. In the process, Amine Salama sent his header from close range above the crossbar. Definitely the man of the match, Sanganté shaved off precious seconds during added time, lying down in the middle of the field to be stretched by a teammate. After a final attempt without momentum from Nakamura, who forced Gorgelin from the arc of a circle into a final flight, the visitors were able to enjoy a result which did not take them out of the red zone, but allowed them to relaunch a dynamic by relying on on a good state of mind. On the other hand, for Stade de Reims, the half-empty glass becomes quite corked.
