On the occasion of the Round of 16 of the League Cup, OGC Nice bounced back last night against Sochaux (2-1). A double from former TFC striker, Xavier Pentecôte, led the Eagles to victory. The team is back on track, which bodes well before meeting the Lion Cubs again on Sunday for Ligue 1.
Despite what some may think, the sacred charm of the cup worked its magic once again.
Beaten in Nancy (0-1) on Saturday, OGC Nice bounced back tonight against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (2-1).
To preserve his starters ahead of the reception… of Mehmet Bazdarevic’s Lion Cubs, on Sunday (5 PM, 12th matchday), Éric Roy opted to widely reshuffle his starting eleven.
Civelli plays tough
Even with reshuffling, the Azurian team attacks hard from the 45th second. Franck Dja-Dje-Dje infiltrates the Sochaux defense but fails to put his shot on target.
But what would a football evening at the Ray be without a dangerous tackle, on the edge of being fair, signed by Renato Civelli? Simply put: it would be flavorless!
Just before the half-hour mark, the Argentine defender launches into the feet of Sochaux winger Ryad Boudebouz with both feet off the ground. The referee, Hervé Piccirillo, remains unfazed. The passionate Nice crowd breathes a sigh of relief. They know the former Marseille player should have been sent off.
Pentecôte boosts his stock
But no matter. This incident becomes completely secondary when Xavier Pentecôte seizes an opportunity to calmly open the score just before half-time (38th).
Back in form, the former Toulouse player repeats his feat at the beginning of the second half with an acrobatic goal following a poor clearance by Pierrick Cros (56th).
Too weak in defense, the Sochaux team managed to narrow the score late in the game with a nice cross shot from Abdoul Camara (80th). But it’s too late.
The Eagles clipped the wings of the Lion Cubs, who will need to recover by Sunday if they hope to take a little revenge in the championship.
Nice-Sochaux: 2-1 (1-0). Round of 16 of the League Cup. Stade du Ray. 6,432 spectators. Referee: Hervé Piccirillo
Goals for Nice: Pentecôte (38th, 56th). Goal for Sochaux: A. Camara (80th).
Warning for Nice: R. Fernandez (87th). Warnings for Sochaux: Perquis (5th), Sauget (72nd).
