After two unsuccessful attempts in 1981 and 2002, the third time proved to be the charm for the young eaglets who took flight, yesterday at the Stade de France, by winning this trophy for the first time in the club’s history, which honors the training of the young talents of tomorrow. A victory that, without a doubt, is crucial for the future of the club.
It was in the first half that the people of Nice managed to make a difference, thanks particularly to set-pieces that destabilized a Saint-Étienne defense overwhelmed at the start of the match. The first wave with a double save by Vachoux was not enough to prevent the ball from crossing the line, at least not for the referee of the evening, Mr. Letexier, who validated the goal in the 9th minute of the game. Far from undeserved, this advantage on the scoreboard gave a little more heart to the people of Nice, who were not lacking. The red and black continued to put pressure on a green back line in complete depression, and the corners kept coming.
Another corner kick for the young protégés of Guy Mengual and another blunder by the young Forez players gave Alex Bosetti, one of the standout players of the match, the opportunity to double the score and confirm his status as the competition’s top scorer. 2-0, the people of Nice couldn’t have dreamed of a better start and managed the last fifteen minutes of play in the first half well to reach halftime with this valuable double advantage.
The second half brought a new dynamic on the Stade de France pitch, where it seemed the roles were reversed in the locker rooms. With Nice now on the defensive and Saint-Étienne full of energy, the first minutes of play remained fairly lively. Almost naturally, Polomat came to close the gap after several green attempts left no chance for the Nice goalkeeper Mouez Hassen, who was otherwise majestic in his goalkeeping.
With just over half an hour of play left and a one-goal difference, the game balanced out between the two formations, and the first signs of fatigue began to show on both sides after a brisk first half and a second that started off similarly. The young green shoots tried to approach the Nice penalty area, but the young eaglets carefully maintained their advantage, giving nothing away with every intervention.
The minutes ticked by and fatigue really set in, leading to many inaccuracies, especially in midfield, where the people of Nice managed rather well. Guy Mengual and all his young protégés were now standing near the touchline, and Mr. Letexier blew his whistle one last time. It’s done! OGC Nice won the Gambardella Cup for the first time, which annually crowns the best youth training club in France. Laughter and tears of joy filled the faces of the young people from Nice, while Alex Bosetti (whom the commentator from France 4 insisted on calling Bo(ss)etti!!!) climbed the rails of the Stade de France to go and kiss family and friends.
We almost can’t wait to see him do the same on the fence at the Stade du Ray…
Photo credit: www.ogcnice.com
