Le Havre forward Josh Maja opened the scoring against Paris Saint-Germain just after the quarter-hour mark of Friday's Ligue 1 fixture at the Stade Océane, RMC Sport reported. The Nigerian finished a fast counter-attack to give the league's bottom club a shock lead over the champions. PSG responded before half-time and went in 2-1 ahead.
The ninth-round match kicked off at 19:00 local time. RMC Sport, which carried live coverage, said Rayan Fofana broke down the right and delivered a low ball to the far post, where Maja converted from close range without hesitation.
Why it matters
The goal briefly threatened to disrupt a PSG side riding an eight-match winning run in all competitions. Luis Enrique's team had beaten Barcelona 4-2 in the Champions League and then Lyon 2-0 in the league, according to RMC Sport, and arrived in Normandy as heavy favourites.
Le Havre, by contrast, are winless in Ligue 1 this season. RMC Sport reported that the Normans sit last in the table with two draws and six defeats from their opening eight games. They had also conceded 11 goals across their previous four matches.
The wider context made the early setback more striking. RMC Sport noted that Le Havre have now gone nine home league games without a win — four draws and five defeats — the longest such run in the club's history.
How PSG turned it around
Achraf Hakimi levelled for the visitors. RMC Sport reported that Senny Mayulu released the Moroccan captain on a run timed to the edge of offside, and Hakimi finished clinically at the near post past goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart.
Mika Godts then put PSG in front. According to RMC Sport, Lucas Hernandez played Hakimi into space, and the full-back controlled inside the area before squaring for the Belgian winger to apply the finishing touch.
Godts was making a rare start. RMC Sport noted that he had come off the bench to decisive effect against Lyon, and with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia facing a long absence, the left winger has a chance to establish himself in the starting line-up.
The line-ups and the pattern of play
Luis Enrique rotated heavily. RMC Sport reported five changes from the side that faced Villarreal, with Lucas Digne, Godts and Ferran Torres all starting and Désiré Doué among the substitutes. Matvey Safonov began in goal behind a back line of Hakimi, Illia Zabarnyi, Hernandez and Digne. Warren Zaïre-Emery, Dro Fernandez and Maghnes Akliouche formed the midfield, with Mayulu, Torres and Godts up front.
Le Havre's starting XI, per RMC Sport, was Bodart in goal; Ndiaye, Touba, Seko and Ouziad in defence; Ebonog, Mwanga and Richardson, the captain, in midfield; and Nakamura, Maja and Fofana in attack.
The hosts had chances. RMC Sport reported that Nakamura drove through the middle and forced Safonov to push a powerful strike from the edge of the box behind, only for the resulting corner to be ruled out because a Le Havre player was offside. Earlier, Zaïre-Emery met a Godts cutback first time from the penalty spot, but Ouziad blocked the effort. Torres also tested Bodart with a low drive to the near post that the goalkeeper kept out with his foot.
Both sides rank among the most shot-happy teams in the division. RMC Sport noted that PSG have attempted 163 shots this season and Le Havre 131, with only Brest (136) separating them in the Ligue 1 standings for attempts.
Off the pitch, Le Havre's supporters made their feelings known. Foot Mercato reported that a section of the club's fanbase aimed a pointed message at the league authorities, with the outlet quoting a slogan that translates roughly as "even the LFP wants to punish us." CYBEV.io has not independently verified the banner or its wording.
The second half continues at the Stade Océane, with PSG holding a 2-1 lead and Le Havre chasing a first league win of the campaign.
