Cavigal was making up a postponed match from the 7th day of the championship. The Azuréens, 6th in the standings, traveled to Alsace, in Sélestat (8th).
Four days after a convincing win against Dijon (30-21), Cavigal Nice Handball crossed France for an important match in the race for the playoffs, in Sélestat. Although Asier Antonio’s protégés remain cautious about their objectives, they seem to have the potential to reach the finals. However, this trip to Alsace promised to be very challenging.
A flattering score at halftime for Cavigal
The start of the game was complicated for the Niçois. Cavigal appeared uninspired in attack. Sélestat took the lead with two goals from the left-winger Tanguy Thomas, both on counter-attacks. Pivot Téo Eggermann even increased the gap after completing a close-range attack (3-0, 2nd minute). Failing in both attack and defense, the Azuréens missed the start of the match. It took several minutes for the Niçois to find their rhythm. Pivot Sébastien Rossi demonstrated his power to score his second goal of the evening from close range. Jérémi Pirani, Cavigal’s left-winger, managed to bring his team within one goal of the Alsatians after converting a seven-meter throw in two attempts (5-4, 9th minute). Yet, Nice remained behind.
Sélestat’s goalkeeper, Mehdi Harbaoui, made numerous saves (8 in the first half), allowing his team to maintain their advantage. Thibaud Valentin, the local playmaker, added to the score. Still struggling in attack, the Niçois suffered from the Alsatians’ quick counter-attacks, like Thomas, who scored his third goal (8-5, 16th minute). This forced Asier Antonio to call a timeout. This timeout benefited the Niçois. Taking advantage of a numerical superiority, Cavigal managed to make up some ground with goals from playmaker Yohan Bourgueil and left-back Matthieu Diaz (8-7, 17th minute). Right-back Alexis Bon and the indispensable Rossi, from close range, brought the Azuréens level with the locals (9-9, 21st minute).
However, Diaz received a two-minute suspension for a shove. Sélestat took advantage to regain the lead through right-back Thomas Cappella. His teammate, left-back Nicolas Minne, capitalized on the absence of a Niçois goalkeeper to give the locals some breathing room (11-9, 23rd minute). Cavigal was chasing the score in this first half. But a turning point came in the match. On Sélestat’s side, Eggermann was penalized with a two-minute suspension for a shirt grab. His team then received another two-minute suspension following a poor substitution. With a double numerical advantage, Nice caught up with goals from left-back Dylan Lopez and another from Diaz. At halftime, the score was even (16-16).
Nice finally takes the lead… but falters at the end of the match
Cavigal started the second half with more efficiency. Argentine playmaker Manuel Crivelli allowed the Niçois to take the lead for the first time in the match. Full of power, Rossi scored his fourth goal of the evening (16-18, 33rd minute). Captain Joan Amigo Boada also showed the way forward with a mid-range shot. On a counter-attack, Diaz extended the lead for the Niçois (18-21, 36th minute). But Sélestat had resources. Right-back Antoine Guntfreud reduced the gap before a powerful long-range effort by Minne (21-22, 40th minute). Cavigal fell back into their old habits. A turnover by Diaz allowed Thomas to challenge Gretar Ari Gudjonsson, the Niçois goalkeeper, successfully. Guntfreud equalized with a seven-meter throw before a counter-attack finished by right-back Hugo Pimenta (25-24, 45th minute).
The Niçois weathered the storm after some difficult minutes. Icelandic goalkeeper Gudjonsson was decisive in his net. Captain Amigo Boada equalized, and Estonian right-winger Jürgen Rooba restored the lead for the Azuréens after a counter-attack (26-27, 49th minute). With ten minutes remaining, neither team managed to break away. After a timeout called by their coach, the Alsatians pressed forward, with the power of Eggermann, scoring his fourth goal. Minne managed to create a gap for Sélestat, scoring his fifth and sixth goals of the evening (29-27, 53rd minute). Cavigal was passive in defense, and it cost them dearly. Cappella scored three consecutive goals, allowing his team to widen the gap (32-28, 57th minute).
Cavigal Nice Handball tried to inject some suspense at the end of the match. With a quick restart, Lopez reduced the gap, followed by a new goal from Bon on a well-executed counter-attack (32-30, 58th minute). But it was too late for the Azuréens. The locals ran down the clock and secured a valuable victory in the race for the playoffs. Cavigal ultimately lost 33-31 in Sélestat. A rather logical defeat given the course of the match. More reactive than proactive, the Niçois left Alsace with a frustrating defeat. In the standings, the Azuréens are overtaken by their opponent and find themselves in 8th place. They will need to rebound on Friday, in Strasbourg-Schiltigheim (11th), to continue believing in the playoffs.
