After missing their start in the championship against Metz, OGC Nice made up for it this Saturday in their first French Cup match by winning at home against Clermont (36-31). This was a match that was far from an easy walk.
Smiles are on faces. This Saturday, the players from Nice and Clermont were very close. Ultimately, the team from the Riviera won by a 5-goal difference against a Clermont team that gave them a tough challenge.
Two teams side by side
The supporters witnessed a choppy and tight first quarter-hour between the Nice and Clermont teams (7-7; 13th minute). However, the Gym began to widen the gap just before the 20th minute (13-10; 19th minute).
Marie Prouvensier set the example by scoring 6 goals for her team. Just like Clermont’s number 13, who was involved in several decisive actions. Nice led by 3 goals at halftime (19-16).
15 minutes to conclude in style
In this challenging context for both teams to differentiate themselves, Nice got worried when their opponents took the lead again (22-23; 37th minute). Up to the 45th minute, the score was level at 27-27, thanks to Clermont’s number 9, Sandrine Benay.
Then Ehsan Abdelmalek entered the scene. Who better than the captain to set an example? The Egyptian-born player allowed the Gym to regain a 2-point lead (29-27; 47th minute). With three minutes left in the match, the Nice team pulled ahead on the scoreboard, 34-30, and could rely on the talent of their goalkeeper Marija Colic, who made a dozen decisive saves.
With a 4-goal lead and little time for Clermont to catch up, the task became impossible for the Clermont team. To conclude the match, Marija Colic joined in the spectacle. After retrieving the ball, the Serbian goalkeeper took a chance by shooting from her own goal area. The ball landed in the empty net (36-31; 59th minute).
The referee blew the final whistle. Nice won 36-31 against a Clermont team that never gave up. “Against Metz, it was complicated. Recently, we haven’t been able to play many matches, or friendlies, but we are gradually getting back into rhythm. Tonight, it was also very hard. But the result is there, and that’s all that matters,” the Nice team’s captain analyzed, visibly satisfied with her team’s performance.
OGC Nice has therefore gained a full dose of confidence before hosting Dijon in the next round of the championship.
