Le Havre secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Strasbourg at Stade Océane, capitalising on a crucial first-half red card to claim all three points.
Le Havre triumphed over Strasbourg with a 2-1 scoreline in a captivating Ligue 1 encounter on February 8, 2026. Issa Soumaré emerged as the hero, sealing the victory after Strasbourg played most of the match with ten men.
Coming into the fixture, Le Havre sat 15th in the league, needing points to climb away from the relegation zone. Seventh-placed Strasbourg, meanwhile, aimed to consolidate its European push. Both teams had plenty to play for at Stade Océane.
The match ignited in the 26th minute when Le Havre's Stephan Zagadou opened the scoring. Sofiane Boufal delivered a precise assist, and Zagadou expertly drilled the ball home to give the hosts the lead.
However, the game's complexion drastically changed just three minutes later. Strasbourg's Ibrahima Doukoure received a straight red card for holding, leaving his team with a significant disadvantage. Ben Chilwell also saw a yellow card for a foul soon after.
Despite being a man down, Strasbourg showed remarkable resilience. Martial Godo found the net in the 36th minute, pulling his side level with a well-taken goal against the odds, silencing the home crowd.
At the break, the score stood 1-1, setting up a tense second half. Le Havre surely discussed how to exploit their numerical advantage, while Strasbourg braced for a challenging defensive effort to hold firm.
Le Havre pressed their advantage after the restart. Their persistence paid off in the 54th minute when Issa Soumaré restored the lead. Arouna Sangante provided the assist, and Soumaré slotted home calmly from inside the box.
The game became scrappy in the later stages as Strasbourg fought valiantly for an equaliser. Lucas Gourna-Douath of Le Havre received a yellow card for roughing in the 74th minute. Soumaré, the goalscorer, also earned a yellow card for tripping in the 85th minute.
Despite a spirited effort from Strasbourg, Le Havre managed the game well, holding onto their narrow lead through the final whistle. Substitutions from both sides tried to impact the game's tempo and outcome.
Le Havre finished with an Expected Goals (xG) of 0.85 from 15 total shots, with 7 on target, reflecting their attacking intent. Strasbourg managed an xG of 0.44 from 9 total shots, with just 3 hitting the target, hampered by their early red card. Ball possession was closely contested, with Le Havre holding 51%.
This vital 2-1 win lifts Le Havre further away from the Ligue 1 danger zone, providing a much-needed morale boost. Strasbourg will rue Doukoure's dismissal, which severely complicated their quest for points and a higher league standing.
