Lee Kang-in gets first goal of new Ligue 1 campaign as PSG beat Le Havre 4-1

The 23-year-old Korean footballer was the first to get on the scoresheet across the French league, finding the back of the net in the the third minute of PSG’s match against Le Havre Friday, with all other clubs to play over the weekend.

Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in scores their first goal in the third minute in a match against Le Havre in Le Havre, France on Friday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Lee Kang-in’s left foot struck again, drawing first blood in the opener to the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season as Paris Saint-Germain beat Le Havre 4-1.

The 23-year-old Korean footballer was the first to get on the scoresheet across the French league, finding the back of the net in the the third minute of PSG’s match against Le Havre Friday at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre, France, with all other clubs still to play over the weekend.

It was a show of strength for Luis Enrique’s reigning champions, especially their young talent, who trounced Le Havre after a late-game turnaround.

Lee got things off to a solid start, reacting quickly to a cross from Goncalo Ramos and shooting the ball into the top right with his preferred left foot.

PSG's Lee Kang-in, center, in action against Yassine Kechta, left, of Le Havre during their match in Le Havre, France on Friday. [EPA/YONHAP]

The visitors kept their 1-0 advantage throughout the rest of the first half, with the home side failing to equalize after a header by Abdoulaye Toure in the 28th minute was called offside.

But Le Havre denied Les Parisiens a clean sheet almost immediately after the break, capitalizing on a free kick by Christopher Operi, with defender Guatier Lloris knocking in the ball from right in front of the net.

The game looked to be headed toward a draw after VAR ruled out a second goal for the home side.

Lee came off of the pitch in the 71st minute, replaced by Ousmane Dembele, in a flurry of substitutions from both sides.

And everything seemed to fall into place for the visitors. Dembele was the first to strike in what would be a string of PSG goals, jumping for the cross by 19-year-old Joao Neves, who had also come on as a sub, to head the ball into the net in the 84th minute and put them back up.

Two minutes later, it was Neves again with the assist, getting the ball to Bradley Barcola, 21, who dribbled down the left and finished the job with a right-footed cross.

But that wouldn’t be PSG’s last act, with Randal Kolo Muani stepping up to take a penalty in the 90th minute, making things 4-1 to seal their win.

Lee is in his second season with PSG. He clocked 2,083 minutes with the club across all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign, scoring five goals and recording five assists.

PSG next play Montepellier on Friday at Parc des Princes, their first home game of the season.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]