Facing a direct competitor for qualification in the European Championship, OGC Nice handball pulled off a very impressive feat. Away from home, the women from Nice were able to count on a stellar performance from Marine Dupuis.
Mid-season, OGC Nice handball is more than ever among the contenders for one of the top four places. A result that would mean qualification to participate in a European competition next season. With only two points behind the podium, the handball players from the Côte d’Azur had an appointment in Besançon, another contender for those European spots.
The match promised to be exciting with two teams in great form. The Bisontines were indeed unbeaten since the start of the year. It was clear that the task would be challenging, and the beginning of the match confirmed it. ESBF quickly pulled away. Ilona Di Rocco struck three times in less than ten minutes, allowing her team to take a five-goal lead. The match seemed poorly started for the red and blacks, who appeared not fully engaged. However, they showed resilience, embodied by two players: Louna Benezeth and Marine Dupuis. The former, who joined the Côte d’Azur team this year, was the first to lead the charge. With eight goals to her name that evening, she ended as the second top scorer of the match.
The Marine Dupuis Show
But it was Marine Dupuis who enabled the team from Marseille-Alpes to turn the match around. The Aiglonnes’ captain strung together numerous successful plays, finishing with 12 goals (including five seven-meter throws). A 100% success rate that stunned the Bisontines’ defense, powerless against this performance. In terms of the sequence of events, Nice quickly got back into the match, closing the gap with Besançon to +5 at halftime. The lead even extended to +9 before slightly dropping, ending at (28-35) in favor of OGC Nice handball.
A clear and faultless victory allows the women from Nice to move ahead of Besançon in the rankings, taking the fifth place. A remarkable achievement that will need to be confirmed next Wednesday at home against Dijon, currently third in the championship. The appointment is set for 8:30 PM at the Halle des Sports Charles Ehrmann.
