A good point for the Hacmen, a bad one for the Sang et Or. Lens and Le Havre drew on Saturday during the 28th day of Ligue 1 (1-1). Przemyslaw Frankowski (58th) broke the deadlock for the locals who were dominant but not realistic enough. Emmanuel Sabbi equalized from the penalty spot (78th). Franck Haise’s players put an end to a series of two defeats but are frustrated because they are still slowed down in the race for Europe. Those of Luka Elsner realize
a good move in the fight for maintenance.
Recently beaten by their competitors Nice (1-3) and Lille (2-1), the Lensois started strong on the lawn of a still full Stade Bollaert and quickly put their center forward Elye Wahi into orbit. The former Montpellier shot a first arrow from a tight angle (7th) then came up against the opposing goalkeeper Arthur Desmas on the following corner (8th). A few moments later, the lively Wahi slammed a superb acrobatic scissor after a corner but the ball ended up on the crossbar (11th).
Frankowski scores nicely with success
At first seriously shaken, the Hacmen were able to respond. They raised the tone in their pressing and Daler Kuzyaev went to give work to Brice Samba (13th). In a system modeled on the Lensois 3-4-3, Yassine Kechta, Oussama Targhalline and the visitors began to show their technical qualities to push back their opponents and fuel their attacking duo André Ayew – Emmanuel Sabbi. Despite a goalless score at the break, the debates were open and contested.
Eager to bring an additional touch of creativity to his team, Haise launched Neil El Aynaoui in place of Salis Abdul Samed who was also injured (46th). This choice paid off for the biting Lensois, especially as Florian Sotoca was shaken. The 33-year-old striker thought he had opened the scoring, but Wahi was offside at the start (53rd). If Kevin Danso sent his curled shot just above the target (57th), Frankowski managed to lob Desmas on his right-footed cross from the left and opened the score more or less voluntarily (1-0, 58th).
A little fresh air for Le Havre
The RCL had found the fault but then lacked a little breath and ambition to make the break. The Hacmen stayed in the game and believed in their ability to equalize. Ayew and Gautier Lloris were blocked in a mess at six meters (74th), then Sabbi obtained a penalty for a foul by Ruben Aguilar (75th). The American transformed the sanction by taking Brice Samba on the wrong foot before celebrating with a somersault (1-1, 78th).
Annoyed, the Sang et Or gave everything and engaged in an unbridled end to the match. But they remained muddled against combative opponents. Despite a total of 18 shots including 8 on target, they had to settle for a draw like in the first leg (0-0) and saw the next Champions League slip away. Provisionally 5th in the ranking, they will have to do better soon against Metz and Clermont, the two relegated with whom Le Havre has taken a small margin.