OGC Nice Handball: nightmarish evening for the Eaglets who lose again by a goal margin

In the derby against Plan-de-Cuques, the Nice players wanted to get back on track after five consecutive defeats in the Butagaz League. Despite a convincing first half, Marine Dupuis’ teammates collapsed at the end of the match and suffer yet another narrow defeat. (29-28)

Times are tough for the Eaglets since the start of the season. Beaten in the return match last Wednesday by Larvik in EHF European League, the Nice players were transparent at times, and can regret this elimination on the wire in European Cup.

No more success in Butagaz League, the Eaglets monopolize the bottom of the standings, 10th, far from their results last season. In today’s derby against the Bucco-Rhodaniennes of Plan-de-Cuques, 8th, the objective was simple for the players of Sébastien Mizoule, to regain confidence and put an end to this negative spiral that never ends.

Intensity but imprecision

This first part of the match was marked by many remarkable situations. Repeated posts, an amazing lob that stops on the line, silly ball losses, we were not bored in the first half.

Score-wise, the two teams played cat and mouse, never managing to take more than two goals ahead of the opposing team in the first 20 minutes. (10-10)

Little by little, the Nice players managed to find more verticality in ball recovery, regularly catching the Plan-de-Cuques defense off guard. Despite some transmission errors, the Maralpines managed to build on their lead, to return to the locker room with a small advantage. (14-17)

On the home side’s part, bad luck was mixed with a glaring lack of defensive aggressiveness. It was Hanna Ahlen, the Nice back, who benefited most from this laxity by scoring several goals in the heart of the Plan-de-Cuques block.

A terrible end to the match

Upon return from the locker room, it was Maralpin goalkeeper Cécilia Errin who shone. With three one-on-ones won in 5 minutes, she allowed her team to maintain a small cushion. Across from them, the Plan-de-Cuques players managed to be more compact, more aggressive, and much more accurate in approaching the opposing zone. At the 45th minute, the gap was only one goal. (20-21)

Unfortunately, the old demons of recent end-of-match defeats seemed to be running through the Nice players’ minds. After spending almost the entire match trailing the Eaglets, the Bucco-Rhodaniennes came back into contact with 5 minutes left to play, after two minutes of numerical superiority. (25-25)

In the final minutes, the Eaglets weakened. Like against Strasbourg, they eventually cracked at the buzzer and fall by the narrowest of margins. (29-28)

It is difficult to find comfort when the scenarios seem to be repeating themselves. Far from being outmatched in content, the Nice players lack a little confidence that they will need to quickly regain to avoid living a nightmarish season. Hopefully the break will allow the group to refocus. Next home match, October 30 at 8pm against Brest, 2nd in Butagaz League.