Seven points now separates Le Havre, solid first in the standings, from Bordeaux after the victory of the Normans on Monday evening (1-0). Dominating throughout the quays of a rough match, suffering after being down to ten, Le Havre held firm in a melting Stade Océane at the end of the match. The HAC still flies over league 2.
Those who feared, in Le Havre, that the World Cup mini-truce could have damaged the beautiful momentum set in motion since the start of the season, were quickly very reassured. Nothing has changed for the people of Le Havre who attacked this shock against their runner-up in the standings, Bordeaux, with the same face and the same intentions.
Guided by a surprisingly accurate Yassine Kechta (21) in his placement and his game launches, Le Havre quickly took the measure of his opponent. Quickly, the leader of Ligue 2 took advantage of a very well constructed action. Christopher Operi, after a one-two with Jamal Thiaré addressed a center at the near post. Launched, Amir Richardson was ahead of Gaëtan Poussin, the Bordeaux goalkeeper, and opened the scoring from the chest (1-0, 9th). It was enough to make a crowded Océane stadium roar, which was experiencing its first sold-out meeting in its history.
A bitter and choppy encounter
Encouraging, the start of the match was not followed by the same enthusiasm with rough duels. A meeting before, finally very choppy as evidenced by the twenty faults committed in the first period. Le Havre had mastered the debates against a surprisingly harmless Bordeaux, like a totally transparent Josh Maja. However, with an ambitious 4-4-2, David Guion had shown his intentions. But his team remained, with no shots on target in the first period, very discreet.
Without setting the slightest pace, even apathetic, the Bordelais did not react more to the recovery. The HAC did not change anything and could have worsened the score by Quentin Cornette with a header (54th), following a failed recovery from Poussin, and on a strike released by the Bordeaux goalkeeper (58th).
The expulsion of the same Quentin Cornette (67th), for a second warning, was he going to change the game? This did not in any way stop the numerous stoppages for faults committed on either side. Bordeaux grew a little more. And did not take advantage of the error of Oualid El Hajjam whose back pass benefited DiIane Bakwa, then Aliou Badji who missed the frame wide open (81st). With a public standing for all the extra time, the people of Le Havre suffered but did not let go. The raised arms of the players, the embraces of the whole bench at the final whistle said a lot about the slowdown but above all the joy and the hopes for this season.