end of series for the Le Havre leader, beaten in Annecy after 32 matches without defeat

2023-05-15 23:05:31

The Savoyard club comes out of the red zone thanks to this prestigious success against Le Havre on Monday, during the 35th day of Ligue 2. The HAC remains leader.

All good things come to an end, even for Le Havre. After 32 games unbeaten, equaling the previous unbeaten record in Ligue 2, the Norman leader lost 1-0 at promoted Annecy, who came out of the relegation zone at the end of the 35th day on Monday.

The HAC will not do better than Sedan, undefeated for 32 consecutive matches in the second division in 1954-1955. Blame it on Annecy, the first club to beat the Ciels and Marines since Valenciennes on August 6, 2022, on its striker Kevin Mouanga (50th) and its goalkeeper Florian Escales, author of an incredible save in added time.

Le Havre remains leader in the L2 standings but sees Bordeaux come back to five points and Metz to six, while only the first two will be promoted to Ligue 1 next year. The leader cannot therefore be officially promoted during the 36th day, at home against Valenciennes.

Electric endgame

In a match that was closed at first, the HAC got the only real chance of the first period, but Nabil Alioui’s low shot was deflected by Escales on the post (9th). In the second period, Annecy proved dangerous on a distant free kick from Steve Shamal, released for a corner by Arthur Desmas. On the corner, the Le Havre goalkeeper saw defender Kevin Mouanga emerge to smash the ball with his head into the net (50th). In the 62nd, the incoming Jamal Thiaré, launched in the axis, stumbled on Escales. Him again.

Finally, in an electric end to the match, Le Havre coach Luka Elsner received a yellow card for protest before the expulsion of Thiaré, completely beside himself, for his behavior towards the referee.

But the action of the match will remain the exceptional parade of Stopovers to save Yann Kitala’s attempt on his line, in the 90th +5. A parade that allows the Savoyards to get out of the red zone, now in 15th place with two points ahead of Valenciennes, 17th and first relegated.