Le Havre 0-7 Lyonnes: Ruthless Lyonnes Dismantle Le Havre in Feminine Division 1

Match Report

OL Lyonnes delivered a performance of such surgical precision and overwhelming force that it bordered on cruel. The 7-0 scoreline doesn’t even fully capture the chasm in quality, ambition, and execution between the perennial champions and a Le Havre side that was simply swept away by a red and blue tidal wave. From the first whistle, Lyonnes played with a tempo and intelligence that their hosts could not comprehend, let alone contain.

This was more than just securing three points; it was a demonstration of power that reverberates across the Feminine Division 1, reminding everyone of the impossibly high standard they set. For Le Havre, it was a brutal, humbling lesson in what it takes to compete at the very highest level. They were not just beaten; they were systematically dismantled, piece by piece, in front of their own supporters.

First-Half Overview

From the outset, the tactical disparity was glaring. Lyonnes set up to suffocate Le Havre in their own half, pressing with a coordinated intensity that forced error after error. The home side’s plan seemed to be to sit deep, absorb pressure, and hope for a moment on the counter, but they were afforded neither the time nor the space to execute it.

The first genuine warning shot came just 16 minutes in. The move was pure, classic Lyonnes: rapid ball movement, intelligent running, and a clinical finish. Sofie Svava, operating with relentless energy down the left flank, delivered a perfect service for Kadidiatou Diani, who made no mistake in dispatching the ball into the net. It was a goal that felt both inevitable and beautifully constructed.

Le Havre’s response was one of frantic defence, chasing shadows as Lyon’s midfield dictated the rhythm with infuriating ease. Their frustration began to show, culminating in a cynical yellow card for C. Boisard on 35 minutes for a clumsy challenge born of desperation. Any hope of reaching the halftime break with just a one-goal deficit was extinguished three minutes before the whistle.

This time, the attack came from the right, with Ashley Lawrence providing the width and creativity. Her pass found Marie-Antoinette Katoto, whose movement in the box was simply a class above. She found a pocket of space, controlled the ball, and fired home to make it 2-0. It was a devastatingly simple goal that highlighted Le Havre’s inability to track runners and Lyonnes’s mastery of exploiting defensive lapses. I have to say, watching Lyonnes’s full-backs operate as auxiliary wingers is a tactical masterclass in itself; they don’t just support the attack, they often initiate and finish it.

Second Half Overview

If the first half was a controlled demolition, the second was an all-out blitz. Le Havre made a change at the break, bringing on E. Mbakem-Niaro, but it was akin to patching a dam with tissue paper. The floodgates were about to burst open. Lyonnes re-emerged with even greater hunger, and within 16 minutes, the contest was annihilated.

The onslaught began in the 52nd minute when Vicki Becho added a third, her energetic pressing paying off as she capitalised on a defensive mix-up. Just five minutes later, I. Benyahia joined the party, finding the net to make it four. The true turning point, if you can call it that, in a game this one-sided, was the nine-minute spell that saw Lyonnes score three times.

The fifth goal, arriving on 61 minutes, was Diani’s second of the day, assisted by Becho, who had turned from scorer to provider in the blink of an eye. This rapid-fire succession of goals broke what little spirit Le Havre had left. Both managers rang the changes, but for entirely different reasons. Le Havre desperately sought to stop the bleeding, while Lyonnes introduced fresh attackers to maintain the relentless pressure.

The introduction of Tabitha Chawinga for Katoto on 69 minutes was particularly ominous. Her pace and directness added yet another dimension to an already unstoppable attack, and it was no surprise when she scored Lyonnes’s sixth in the 81st minute. To add insult to injury, Chawinga grabbed her second and Lyonnes’s seventh in stoppage time, a final, emphatic stamp on a match that had long been over. The depth of Lyonnes’s bench is, frankly, an unfair advantage; their substitutes would start for almost any other team in this league.

Player Performances and Match Impact

While there were numerous standout performers in a Lyonnes shirt, Kadidiatou Diani was the orchestrator of Le Havre’s misery. Her two goals were expertly taken, but it was her intelligent movement, her link-up play, and her constant threat that set the tone for the entire match. She was simply unplayable, drifting between the lines and creating chaos wherever she went, earning a deserved Player of the Match award.

This result cements Lyonnes’s flawless start to the season, sending a clear message to title rivals like PSG that they remain the team to beat. For Le Havre, this is a devastating blow not only to morale but also to their goal difference. They sit perilously in the bottom half of the table, and a defeat of this magnitude can have psychological repercussions that last for weeks.

What’s next?

Lyonnes’s merciless performance solidifies their top-of-the-table dominance, while Le Havre are left to pick up the pieces from a truly chastening defeat. The champions march on, while Le Havre must find a way to bounce back ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.

You can check out statistics, fixtures, and standings at our Match Center.

Player Ratings

Player of the Match: K. Diani (OL Lyonnes)

Le Havre W			Lyonnes W
#	Player	Rating	#	Player	Rating
–	Goalkeeper	3/10	–	Goalkeeper	7/10
–	E. Kouache	3/10	–	A. Lawrence	8.5/10
–	Defender B	4/10	–	W. Renard	8/10
–	Defender C	3/10	–	Tarciane	8/10
–	C. Gavory	4/10	–	S. Svava	9/10
–	C. Boisard	4/10	–	Midfielder A	8/10
–	S. Kassi	4.5/10	–	I. Benyahia	8.5/10
–	J. Nassi	5/10	–	V. Becho	9/10
–	C. Effa Effa	4/10	–	K. Diani	9.5/10
–	M. Dore	4/10	–	M. Katoto	8.5/10
–	Forward A	4/10	–	Forward A	8/10