It was the 2010 return of OGC Nice in front of its crowd, an opportunity to make people forget its difficult performances during the first matches. However, nothing went as planned against AJ Auxerre, and the Gym conceded its fourth home defeat of the season (0 – 1). In a rather balanced match, it took until stoppage time for the game to finally have a winner. It could have been Nice, but unfortunately, the crossbar (91st minute) dashed the last hopes of a Nice victory. Worse, it even returned the ball to the Auxerre players, offering them the counter-attack which allowed them, a minute later, to open the score and leave with the win. An unfortunate outcome that reignited the resentment of the Nice crowd towards the club’s management.
Too Weak Intentions
Annoyed by the defeats at Plabennec and Montpellier, the supporters moved timidly on this weekday evening for the return of the Gym. And those who were present created a peculiar atmosphere from the start of the match. After the first 20 minutes predominantly controlled by the visitors, the Brigade Sud could already be heard chanting a few “Stellardo resignation.” On the field, the Nice team was disappointing, and Loïc Remy was waiting in vain for good attacking balls. Ollé-Nicolle’s players did manage to create some good opportunities like this half-volley by Coulibaly (29th minute) or the missed one-on-one in a small perimeter by Rémy against Riou after a good breakthrough by Mounier (43rd minute). But the intentions were too weak to find the flaw. Especially, there was a severe lack of a midfielder capable of controlling the ball and organizing the attacks.
Flares, Jeers, and Calls for Resignation from the Management
The second half started on the same basis: long balls from defense towards Rémy alone in the lead. Opposite him, the solid central defense duo of Grichting – Mignot calmly took the balls with their heads. It was only when Nice’s attacks came swiftly and on the ground that this defense seemed vulnerable. Like this good strike from Sablé captured by Riou after a beautiful back-heel pass from Rémy. Then, nothing until the 91st minute and this superb acrobatic volley by Coulibaly from Civelli’s setup which crashed against Riou’s crossbar. The turning point of the match since in the next minute Jelen, though served in an offside position, came to seal the fate for Ospina with a lobbed cross shot. The final blow for the Nice crowd who, disappointed, let their anger be heard: flares, jeers, and calls for the management to resign. A defeat that places the red and black in a delicate position: still 16th, but 5 points behind the 15th, Lens. Nice will have to show a completely different face if they want to avoid the harsh criticisms from their fans.
The Nice Player of the Match: David Ospina
If the local goalkeeper stood out tonight, it is because he had the opportunity to shine on numerous Auxerre chances. The fault of the defensive slackness and once again a midfield that could not keep up with the Pedretti – Chafni duo. For the eaglets could have conceded earlier without their excellent goalkeeper. In turn, Jelen, all alone on a counter (44th minute), Chafni, with a dry strike at 16 meters (48th minute), and Birsa, on the left (50th minute), saw their attempts repelled by Ospina.
