Unlike the Rennais in crisis, OGC Nice seems to be on track this time with a second consecutive victory, hard-fought, after a solid match and a defensive performance that was nothing short of heroic!
No, Mohamed Méïté will not be the hero of the match! He will not save his team from a defeat at home. His goal scored in the dying moments of the game (94+4’) was indeed ruled offside, and VAR confirmed its invalidity. To the great relief of the true heroes of the match, the Aiglons! A victory that would be confirmed a few seconds later at the final whistle, freeing the euphoric and heroic Niçoise, for having maintained the lead since halftime and a second goal by Jonathan Clauss with a low shot that deceived the excellent Brice Samba, following a favorable counter by Jérémy Boga. With the break achieved in the first half, the Aiglons had to brace themselves for the resistance of a deeply affected opponent whose coach might make matters worse for himself in the evening.
Agile and Not Fragile, the Niçoise!
Those accustomed to OGC Nice performances know that the Aiglons are capable of agility as well as fragility. It all depends on how strongly their mentality is shaken. They often disappear in prosperous moments and roar when pushed against the wall. And that is exactly what happened to them tonight in Rennes, where the opponent was considered unbeatable in their stronghold and in front of an electrified audience. In these extreme conditions, the Aiglons know how to excel to deliver the XXL performances they are known for. It was indeed the start of the match that won the game for the Niçoise. Beginning with the splendid goal by the Moroccan international Sofiane Diop, with a curved shot that left Brice Samba with no chance, surprised by the spin and trajectory of the ball which nestled in the opposite corner (38’). Two goals and just as much certainty and conviction for the Niçoise who needed to park the bus in their defense to hold on till the end.
A Heroic Defense!
And it’s the least we can say, the game was not easy for the Niçoise defense (even reduced after Jonathan Clauss left due to injury), stormed by overcharged Bretons who gave it their all to come back, but they were blocked by a great Yehvann Diouf and a defense nothing short of heroic. At every Rennais offensive, there was a foot, head, or tip of a Niçoise defender’s shoe to prevent the score’s reduction. But the pressure was such that any defense in the world would have given way at least once tonight at this inflamed Roazhon Park stadium. It is only fair if Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal managed to reduce the score with a crossed header that drove him mad with joy, as he was so happy and proud of his first professional goal (67’).
A Match for Men!
Invigorated by this goal, the Rennais tried everything to break through the Niçoise lock a second time, but to no avail. Ait Boudlal thought he had a brace and would allow his team to equalize at the end of additional time, but his achievement was finally annulled for offside (90+4’). The tension in the last minutes rose and unsettled players and supporters. The stress prompted the Rennais to literally rush towards the Niçoise goals hoping to equalize and save an evening that was turning nightmarish. The Rennais supporters were boiling with anger and grew louder with each passing minute and even after the match ended.
For their part, the Niçoise could finally breathe and savor the flavors of this improbable away victory, but most importantly of their manly performance achieved with unparalleled fighting spirit, as coach Franck Haise reminded journalists: “sure, I would have liked us to have a bit more control of the game, but we made up for the deficiencies with a lot of heart…”
