Le Havre reignited their Ligue 1 survival bid with a first top-flight away win at Lille since September 1951, with the 2-1 success at Stade Pierre-Mauroy lifting them to within three points of safety.
Le Havre’s survival bid was in desperate need of an injection of energy, and a strong start almost gave them that when Issa Soumare took aim at goal only to be denied by a good save from Lucas Chevalier.
Lille talisman Jonathan David led the hosts’ response, firing a warning shot with a header that was comfortably saved by Mathieu Gorgelin.
The visitors soaked up pressure before the break, and got the rewards their solid defending deserved when opening the scoring.
Just a second goal in eight H2Hs was netted by Ahmed Hassan, who clinically converted from close range after being found by Soumare.
Le Havre’s lead was nearly doubled within five minutes of the restart when Soumare’s diving header was sensationally tipped onto the underside of the bar by Chevalier.
The Lille stopper was powerless to keep the visitors at bay for much longer however, with an episode of penalty box pinball ending in Soumare firing home the rebound after Josue Casimir struck the post.
Yanis Zouaoui nearly made it even more unforgettable for the visitors late on with an audacious long-range effort that Chevalier did well to tip around the post, while Lille’s luckless evening was compounded when Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s close-range finish was ruled out by VAR for a foul in the build-up.
Chuba Akpom’s 97th-minute consolation – his first goal since signing for the club – ultimately arrived too late as Le Havre secured a rare H2H victory away from home, though it wasn’t enough to lift them out of the drop zone, but a first win in any competition since late November will do their confidence the world of good.
Meanwhile, Lille’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League were dealt a blow in what was just a second home league defeat of the season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Issa Soumare (Le Havre)
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