Less than a month after their last confrontation, Nice’s Eagles face off against Marseille’s Spartans with a score to settle. On September 5th, the Marseillais had won 4-1 in their final warm-up match. A defeat that certainly adds extra stakes to the reunion between the two teams, as the Eagles will be eager to show a different face against their Mediterranean neighbors.
A tight first period between Marseille and Nice
From the opening minutes, the intensity is present on the Marseille ice. Nice’s Eagles attempt to develop their game and find spaces in the Spartans’ defense, while the locals can count on the loud support of their fans.
Chances come and go, but both goalies hold strong. Nice’s Eagles remain solid defensively and manage to contain Marseille’s offensives. For their part, the Spartans also fail to capitalize on their opportunities.
After twenty minutes of play, both teams return to the locker room with a scoreless tie, 0-0. Everything is still to play for in a match where every mistake can be costly.
Nice’s Eagles turn around the second period
The second period completely changes the face of the match. At just 1’48”, Marseille opens the scoring through Bobby MacIntyre, assisted by Sayam Limtong and Fabien Colotti. The Spartans take the lead, but Nice’s Eagles are quick to respond.
At 4’32”, Hugo Nogaretto levels the game. The Nice player is set up by Nicolas Ruel and Edouard St-Laurent. Nice’s Eagles quickly catch up and completely restart the match.
Marseille regains the lead at 9’36”. Sayam Limtong, already involved in Marseille’s first goal, scores the Spartans’ second goal with an assist from Kevin Spinozzi. Nice’s Eagles are down again, but their response doesn’t take long.
At 10’58”, Hugo Nogaretto scores his second goal and allows Nice’s Eagles to come back to 2-2. Teemu Loizeau and Louis Cirgues provide the assists. Once again, Nice refuses to let Marseille take control of the match.
The end of the second period even turns in favor of Nice’s Eagles. At 16’24”, Rolands Vigners scores Nice’s third goal. Nicolas Ruel and Teemu Loizeau provide the two assists.
In just a few minutes, Nice’s Eagles have completely reversed the momentum. Down twice, the Nice players finally reach the second intermission with a one-goal lead: 3-2.
The Spartans regain the lead
Nice’s Eagles begin the third period with the advantage on the scoreboard, but Marseille’s Spartans haven’t said their last word. Fueled by their fans, the locals immediately go back on the offensive.
At 3’38”, Jan Dufek levels the teams again. The Marseille player is assisted by Anton Gradin and Albin Nilsson. The score becomes 3-3 and the match is wide open once more.
Nice’s Eagles have little time to respond. Barely one minute and thirty-one seconds later, Marseille strikes again. At 5’09”, Kevin Spinozzi scores the Spartans’ fourth goal and allows the locals to regain the lead, this time for the first time since the second period.
Nice’s Eagles then try to get back in the game, but Marseille manages to maintain its advantage. After being down and successfully turning things around, the Spartans in turn make their comeback in a particularly lively third period.
A defeat following a dramatic scenario
Nice’s Eagles can regret letting slip a match in which they had managed to take control. After a tight first period, the Nice players had reacted perfectly in the second act, notably with a double from Hugo Nogaretto and two assists from Teemu Loizeau.
The third period ultimately proved fatal for Nice’s Eagles. In less than four minutes, Marseille managed to equalize and then definitively take the lead.
Nice’s Eagles fall to defeat (4-3) in Marseille, at the end of a particularly hotly contested match. While the result doesn’t reward their comeback in the second period, Nice’s Eagles showed their ability to react and get back into a match that was long undecided.
Now the Côte d’Azur team will host twice next week. This Tuesday they will welcome Bordeaux’s Boxers to Jean-Bouin at 8 p.m. before facing Rouen’s Dragons on Friday.
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