Having kept their head above water in the relegation battle with five consecutive draws, the home side started brightly in search of a win that could secure their Ligue 1 status for another season.
In their way stood Marseille, who were desperate for three points to boost their European hopes, but that wasn’t evident throughout the first half as they struggled to turn possession into chances.
Le Havre did look dangerous on the counter-attack, but Mbwana Samatta could only fizz a shot directly at Geronimo Rulli in the game’s first real opening.
With the game descending into a combative affair, chances remained at a premium, but Rulli did have to remain alert. The shot-stopper made a big save before half-time to thwart Gautier Lloris from close range as he slid to connect with a free-kick, and he followed that up with an impressive save to deny Ayumu Seko from tapping home from an offside position.
The visitors stepped things up after the break and found the breakthrough on 55 minutes. Following a VAR review, it was ruled that Lucas Gourna-Douath had blocked Mason Greenwood’s free-kick with his elbow, and OM’s top scorer converted the resultant penalty via the post.
That only appeared to inspire the hosts, however, and they won a penalty of their own with 20 minutes to go. Sofiane Boufal’s trickery coaxed a careless challenge from Facundo Medina, and he assumed responsibility from the spot but smacked the crossbar, watching on in anguish as Rulli scrambled to clear Issa Soumaré’s follow-up header.
That miss did appear to stunt the hosts' momentum, especially as the home crowd began to learn that results elsewhere were not going their way.
Le Havre pushed for a leveller, but ultimately came up short as Igor Paixao was denied a second for Marseille with a disallowed goal deep in stoppage time.
Although their top-four hopes are over, Marseille jump into the top six with this victory and have European qualification in their own hands.
Le Havre’s fate is also in their control as they remain outside the bottom three, but the cushion over the relegation play-off spot is cut to one point, meaning a nervy final day awaits.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Emerson Palmieri (Marseille)
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