After their defeat away to Dijon, Cavigal falls once again at home (25-30). Outclassed defensively and imprecise in attack, the Azur team couldn’t stand up to the undefeated co-leader of the championship, Nancy. Meanwhile, Nice is now at the bottom of the Proligue and will travel to Pontault this Saturday.
The start of the season is not what the red and blacks aimed for. After spending the 2019/2020 season in the mid-table of the championship, the Nice team must now fight to get out of the relegation zone. However, the match had started well with 10 solid minutes despite numerous offensive errors. The match is very physical, with both teams going blow for blow. In total, no less than 11 two-minute suspensions were handed out by the referees, benefiting both sides alternately. Thanks to a time penalty, the Eaglets came back to within one point in the 11th minute, before equalizing a minute later.
Nice’s two best players, Jeremi Pirani and Axel Oppedisano, kept their team neck and neck with the Nancy team. The first with his impeccable success on 7-meter throws (6/6), and the second for breaking through the opposing defense. However, at the end of the first half, two turnovers by the Eaglets allowed the Lorraine wingers to score. By halftime, Cavigal went back to the locker room with a three-goal deficit.
Nice accumulates errors at the start of the second period
Although a comeback was still conceivable halfway through the match, it only took a short six minutes for the red and blacks to fall apart. A seven-goal deficit (15-22) silenced the numerous supporters present, and frustration was palpable on the bench. Nice’s coach, Antonio Asier, received a yellow card and apologized to his players.
The last quarter-hour showed the best version of the defense throughout the start of their season. From the 45th to the 55th minute, the Nice defense locked down the goal, allowing only two goals. Thanks to a very tough and consistent 4-2 defense, the Azur team closed the gap to four goals with seven minutes to go. The supporters began to cheer again, spurred by a fabulous reverse spin shot from left-wing Dylan Lopez. On a decisive defense, the local goalkeeper was surprised by a hip shot from Tchitombi into the side netting. Nice would not come back into the match and conceded a third defeat in just four games.
Cavigal travels to Pontault, currently 6th in the Proligue, to secure their first victory of the season.
