For their first away game, OGC Nice handball returns from Burgundy with two points from a draw. A result as frustrating as it was unexpected.
Just three days after their [victory against Saint-Amand](https://www.nicepremium.fr/sports/ogc-nice-handball-victoire-pour-la-premiere-de-la-saison/) at the season opener, the OGC Nice handball women traveled to Dijon. A match that seemed quite balanced on paper between two teams aiming to finish in the top half of the standings.
At the start of the match, it was the Dijon players who took the upper hand. Too weak in defense, the team of [Clément Alcacer](https://www.nicepremium.fr/sports/ogc-nice-handball-les-filles-ont-hate-de-debuter/) suffered the assaults of Maureen Gayet (three goals in seven minutes). Facing the repeated attacks of JDA Dijon, the back area was struggling. Determined to secure the match by halftime, the Dijon team led (21-15) at the break.
Hit but not sunk
It was without taking into account the prideful reaction of the Nice team. In the second half, the Aiglonnes tightened their defense. So much so that Dijon scored only two goals in the first ten minutes. Nice closed in to within two goals of their opponents. Everything was possible. Especially because the team could rely on a stellar performance from Ehsan Abdelmalek. The captain scored 12 goals in this match, including five penalty throws. Well supported by Anne-Emmanuelle Augustine (4 goals) and Adriana Holejova (3 goals), OGC Nice even took the lead four minutes from the end of the match. Unfortunately, the last possessions by Nice did not allow them to hold on to this lead. Worse, Dijon was nearly victorious on a final possession with 20 seconds remaining.
In the end, both teams parted with a tie (31-31). This earned two valuable points for Clément Alcacer’s team, placing them virtually in second place in the championship. The next meeting is this Friday, September 8, with the reception of Paris 92.
