Paris Saint Germain, against Saint Etienne, and Valenciennes at Bordeaux lost. OGC Nice has clearly overcome the red zone threshold and continues on its impressive run. Two brilliant moments from Koné were enough to completely dash the hopes of the northerners who had managed to equalize through Cabaye. It seems that no one can stop the red and black train when it picks up this pace, and once again, the play orchestrated by Lilian’s team was of high quality. At 42 minutes, the first joy came with a deep pass from Diakité sending Koné, who bypassed former Monaco player Sylva to score into an empty net, allowing the Ray to exult while enjoying the lead at halftime with a tasty pissaladière and a cool half-pint as the evening temperature was quite pleasant for February.
As the hour mark just passed, Cabaye, well-fed by Keita, resisted Abardonado and Kanté to equalize with a superb cross shot. With spectators grim-faced, earbuds in or phones pressed to their ears, a draw would leave their favorites in the antechamber of Ligue 2. That’s when the Koné show restarted, first with an unjustly disallowed goal for offside, followed by a valid second goal after a Laslandes shot was pushed away by the Lille goalkeeper. A new moment of fulfillment arose in the Nice arena, weighing heavily towards a victory that seemed to be taking shape. The defense was well organized, the ball circulated well, Lloris was as impeccable as usual in his performance and unlike last year, which was only a few weeks ago, the eaglets ensured the play and gradually pushed the dogues into submission by 94 minutes.
Indeed, they could have done without Balmont’s dismissal, who left the field along with Lille’s Plestan just after the half-hour mark, but, as a neighboring spectator would say, “It had to be done.” And indeed, the people of Nice did it once again. A victory that hence has a particular flavor tonight in the spirit of this red and black commando, which is accomplishing an almost perfect mission, deemed impossible by many.
The finals continue and resemble one another in the capital of the Côte d’Azur, and tonight the kings were thirteen, once again turning what could have been the last attempt for a team that is now a pleasure to watch play. The same supporters, earbuds in, portabilized, announce the victory of the French XV against Wales and with Italy’s victory over Scotland this Saturday evening, the night could justly merit its fever.
