Four days after the setback in Brest, the OGCN handball team was back in their venue for the match against Stella Saint-Maur. A match where the Nice players had a scare.
The OGCN handball players were returning to the Halle des Sports Charles Ehrmann for this 6th day of the Ligue Butagaz Energie. Against Stella Saint-Maur, the objective was clear: to maintain their home invincibility. Especially since the team, led by Sรฉbastien Mizoule, wanted to stay among the top positions in the standings.
Both teams started the match timidly. This season’s top scorer for Nice, Marie-Hรฉlรจne Sajka, was well-contained. Quickly penalized, the Aiglonnes’ back player and currently the third top scorer of the championship, stepped back. It was then the captain Marine Dupuis (8 goals) who took over. Accurate with the 7-meter throws, the French international set the pace in attack. Well supported by a series of saves from Nicole Wiggins (11 saves in the match), the Aiglonnes took off a quarter of an hour into the game. At halftime, Nice was leading (14-9).
Dangerous Lapses
Returning from the locker room, the Val-de-Marne team showed a different side. Nyala Krullaars scored consecutively, bringing the visitors within two goals. Louna Benezeth then found her aim, scoring three goals in 10 minutes, giving her team some breathing space. Ehsan Abdelmalek, meanwhile, reminded everyone of her presence after a complicated start to the season. The Egyptian took on her leadership role to keep her team afloat. Indeed, her teammates were experiencing a lapse, and she took responsibility, scoring four goals at key moments in the second half. Margot Le Blevec, whose start to the championship had been more difficult, scored the winning goal in the 55th minute.
After five missed shots towards the end of the match by the Nice players, the scenario almost turned into a catastrophe. Fortunately, the Azurรฉennes won, saved by the bell (24-23). A victory that does them good but will leave some doubts in their minds. In the standings, Nice clings to the leading group in fourth place. On Wednesday, the Maralpines will head to the capital to challenge Paris 92.
