OGC Nice Handball draws 23-23 on the field of Metz, currently 2nd and reigning champions of France. The Nice team makes a good move even though they deserved to win at the end. A point to secure this Saturday with the reception of Le Havre.
Just a week after the attack on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper, the Metz Arènes observed a minute of silence. Unlike the Coupe de France match (27-20 defeat at Fleury-Loiret), OGC Nice Handball could count on their captain Alexandra Lacrabère and the two internationals Samira Rocha and Elisabet Chavez.
The match starts at a slow pace, with no goals in the first minute. Nice starts the match well with Icelandic player Karen Knutsdottir opening the scoring, followed by the first save by Cléopâtre Darleux. Metz catches up to tie the score and moves ahead with a numerical advantage (5-2, 8th minute). Both teams’ defenses are very well positioned, and the score evolves little. The lead player on the Nice side is Knutsdottir, who scores 4 goals in the first half.
Although Metz gains a small lead at the 15-minute mark, the Azuréennes do not give up and come back thanks to young Dienaba Sy and Manon Le Bihan (8-8, 24th minute). The Nice team has several opportunities to take the lead but always falls short in the final pass. The first half ends with another crossbar hit by Alexandra Lacrabère, still scoreless.
Metz leads 10-9 against a Nice team that has erected strong defenses.
Returning from halftime, Nice struggles to restart and loses two balls (12-10, 33rd minute). It’s the right time for Biljana Bandelier to awaken. The Serbian international scores two quick goals, allowing the Nice team to catch up.
Back from injury, Cléopâtre Darleux is in great form, making save after save. Nervous and undisciplined, the Metz players hit a rough patch, and Beatriz Escribano capitalizes on it (14-14, 38th minute). A few minutes later, OGC Nice finally takes the lead thanks to a new penalty by Escribano (15-16, 42nd minute). The outstanding Bandelier delivers a magnificent second half (5 goals), and Nice builds an interesting lead (17-20, 49th minute).
The Metz coach decides to change the goalkeeper. The psychological effect is immediate because Sébastien Gardillou’s team finds itself in trouble, failing to score any goals for seven minutes (21-21, 57th minute). Samira Rocha brings the Nice bench to its feet with a “roucoulette” (a wrist effect to bypass the goalkeeper), and Nice believes firmly. Elisabet Chavez even extends the lead to two goals with a minute left (21-23, 59th minute).
Brazilian international Rocha misses the match point, and immediately Nina Kanto comes to crucify OGC Nice Handball. Lacrabère’s final attempt, shooting 0/11 today, yields nothing. Nice takes home a good point against one of the top teams in the French championship, moving up to 6th place in the standings.
Up next is the reception of Le Havre, the bottom-ranked team, on Saturday. It’s a match they must not lose to keep the “Top 6 objective” in sight.
Photo credit and more information on www.ogcnicehandball.com
