For their return to competition, the OGC Nice handball players gave themselves a scare. Facing Plan-de-Cuques, the Niçoises secured victory in the final seconds.
It had been two weeks since we had awaited their return to the court. The OGC Nice handball team, who were coming off two consecutive defeats in the championship and the Coupe de France, needed to bounce back. At home, the Niçoises were up against the Provençales from Plan-de-Cuques. The two teams were very close in the standings, positioned at the 6th and 7th places in the Ligue Butagaz Énergie, with a slight advantage for the Azuréennes, as Clément Alcacer’s team had a record of seven wins, two draws, and three losses against HBPC.
The Aiglonnes quickly marked their territory. Wendy Semedo struck first, followed by the top scorer of the red and blacks, Marie-Hélène Sajka. The latter scored four goals in less than ten minutes, giving her teammates a +6 advantage at the start of the match. A comfortable margin that the Niçoises managed in the first half thanks to good teamwork. The Provençales managed to reduce the gap during a short slump by the Aiglonnes, which ended with a timeout by the coach. Wendy Semedo (6 goals) then put her teammates back on track, allowing OGC Nice handball to head into the locker room with a three-goal lead (18-15).
A Complicated Second Half
The second period was more fragmented. The defenses took precedence over the attacks. In this scenario, HBPC managed to stand out and quickly equalize. After five minutes, the visitors even took the lead for the first time in the match. The two teams neutralized each other in a tense atmosphere. In the last ten minutes, both teams were locked in a tie. Plan-de-Cuques finally took the lead through the top scorer of the match, Nele Antonissen, with nine goals. Then Ilona Benezeth stepped up by scoring twice in one minute. It was the 56th minute and the score would not change.
Nice won in a high-tension end to the match (26-25). A good result for the Aiglonnes, who now have a four-point cushion over their rivals in the standings. Despite this, the Maralpines remain in 6th place in the championship, but only two points away from the podium.
The next match for the Niçoises is next Wednesday on the field of Besançon. An old acquaintance who had knocked the Côte d’Azur players out in the Coupe de France at the beginning of the year. The time for revenge has come.
