At the Stade CMA CGM Océane, Auxerre absorbed Le Havre pressure before striking with ruthless timing to leave Normandy with a 3-1 Ligue 1 victory on Sunday.
The Ligue 1 news
Auxerre won the Matchday 7 meeting through Danny Namaso’s first-half opener, a second after the interval from the same forward, and Romain Faivre’s late finish. Le Havre briefly found a route back through substitute Rayan Fofana, but the visitors regained their two-goal cushion within 14 minutes.
Le Havre had chances before falling behind. Josh Maja headed wide in the sixth minute, while goalkeeper Paul Nardi denied Sota Nakamura and Mbwana Samatta during a spell in which the hosts repeatedly worked the ball into the Auxerre box. Amir Richardson also saw an effort blocked.
Auxerre carried their own threat, with Romain Faivre forcing Gauthier Gallon into an early save and Cameron Archer testing the Le Havre goalkeeper after combining with Namaso. Faivre then supplied dangerous deliveries for Axel Tuanzebe, whose headers failed to find the target.
The breakthrough arrived in the 40th minute. Kévin Danois created the opening for Namaso, who finished from close range on the right side of the area. Le Havre had an immediate opportunity to reply, but Maja was stopped after Sota Nakamura’s headed set-up.
After the restart, Le Havre continued to push without finding the equaliser. Lamine N’Diaye was booked in the 54th minute, while Auxerre’s Naouirou Ahamada and Clément Akpa also received yellow cards for dangerous challenges.
Namaso made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, taking Romain Faivre’s through ball and steering a low right-footed shot into the left corner. Le Havre responded with a triple change, introducing Enzo Koffi, Hakim Dongopandji and Fofana for Lamine N’Diaye, Maja and Nakamura.
The substitutions gave the home side a lifeline. Dongopandji led a counterattack in the 66th minute and found Fofana, who placed his finish low inside the left post to reduce the deficit.
Auxerre did not retreat. Faivre hit the right post in the 72nd minute after Danny Namaso’s involvement in the move, while Archer fired over from Danois’s pass. Le Havre created pressure from corners, but Fofana headed narrowly wide and Samatta was kept out by Nardi.
The decisive moment came in the 80th minute. Namaso turned provider again, setting up Faivre for a right-footed shot from outside the box that beat Gallon and made it 3-1.
Auxerre also introduced Arthur Piedfort for Ahamada and Elikya Legros for Lamine Sy in the closing stages. Le Havre sent on Kaito Mizuta and Guy Noël Zohouri, but Samatta headed just wide in stoppage time and Fofana was flagged offside as the hosts searched unsuccessfully for another goal.
| Match | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Le Havre vs Auxerre | Ligue 1, Matchday 7 | Le Havre 1-3 Auxerre |
Goals
- 40th minute: Danny Namaso, Auxerre — assisted by Kévin Danois
- 61st minute: Danny Namaso, Auxerre — assisted by Romain Faivre
- 66th minute: Rayan Fofana, Le Havre — assisted by Hakim Dongopandji
- 80th minute: Romain Faivre, Auxerre — assisted by Danny Namaso
