OGC Nice achieves a monumental feat on Ajax’s field and qualifies for the Champions League playoffs. Thanks to Souquet and Marcel, they managed a draw (2-2) against a Dutch team which dominated a good part of the match.
Fifteen minutes without breathing. Between the 80th minute and the final whistle around the 95th, the people of Nice held their breath, praying to the football gods that Ajax wouldn’t score that third goal which would have brought so much regret. It didn’t happen. Nice will indeed be in the Champions League playoffs in less than fifteen days and could face other European giants like Liverpool or Naples. Tough, but the essential is there, the Gym will play a European cup in mid-September, for the second year in a row.
Blazing start
The Stadium’s clock hadn’t even shown three minutes when OGC Nice was already ahead. Lees-Melou, perfectly launched by Plea, strikes, the goalkeeper deflects but Souquet follows up at the far post and pushes the ball into the net (0-1, 3rd). Chances follow at a frantic pace. Rarely has the Gym been so enterprising in a European cup, they are rewarded. But the magic only lasts for a while. The ArenA roars, whistles, and demands its players wake up. On their first real chance, Van de Beek, already a scorer in the first leg, tricks Cardinale with a cross shot (1-1, 26th). One move, one acceleration, one goal. Total realism.
Poignant 34th minute
Beyond sports, this 34th will remain engraved in the memory of the European cup. The stadium rises, applauds, Ajax players then those of Nice stop and pay tribute to Abdelhak Nouri, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the beginning of the preparations. A striking image that sent shivers down every football fan’s spine. Up until halftime, Ajax presses, exemplified by the free kick punched away by Cardinale (1-1, 40th). The same Cardinale who was more than happy to see the deflected ball by Dolberg go wide (1-1, 42nd).
Ajax rewarded
Returning from the locker rooms, Srarfi, injured, leaves his place to Dalbert, positioned as left midfielder. A change in name only as the left side continues to struggle due to a stunning Justin Kluivert. In six minutes, the Gym concedes five major opportunities—header wide (47th), Cardinale’s save (49th), Kluivert’s shot just wide (51st), Schöne’s shot (53rd), free kick removed by Le Marchand (55th). Ajax takes the lead of the match two minutes later. Central defender Sanchez, ideally served by Viergever, pushes the ball into the back of the net (1-2, 57th). Five minutes later, Cardinale is decisive. With his foot, he deflects a shot from Dolberg that was destined for the back of the net.
Until liberation
From the 70th minute, the knockout is in the air, on both sides. Counters follow one another. Dalbert strikes at the edge of the box, but his shot is deflected for a corner (1-2, 75th). Ziyech responds but doesn’t hit the target. And then, that 79th minute. That famous minute of “Nice-style” ball possession. Seri, the aesthete, is found in the penalty area, back-heels for Marcel, at the penalty spot, who, with his right foot, scores the liberating goal (2-2, 80th). The beautiful gathering of Nice fans (about 2000 supporters) exults, the Nice bench screams with joy. Joy that will be multiplied a quarter of an hour later when Mr. Marinner blows the final whistle.
The right to dream
Nice isn’t yet a European giant, far from it, but over 180 minutes, they eliminated an Ajax team that had won all its home European matches last season. The feat is there, the Aiglons can savor. They will participate in the draw for the playoffs of the most beautiful European cup on Friday.
Photo credit: OGC Nice official website
