For this 6th day of the LBE playoffs, OGC Nice Handball Cรดte d’Azur lost away, 30-26, against Besanรงon.
After losing twice against Nantes in the French Cup (33-26) and in the LBE playoffs (30-31), the Gym wanted to break the curse and end this sad series of defeats. It was another failure for Marjan Kolev’s Aiglonnes, who lost against Besanรงon despite a close first half.
Nice attacks first
With Marie Prouvensier opening the score, the Gym showed aggression from the start. For the first 20 minutes, the Nice team led by a small margin, never managing to secure themselves from the threat of Besanรงon (2-2; 3-5; 6-6). The Aiglonnes demonstrated a solid and effective game, exemplified by shots from Barbara Moretto (nine shots, three goals) and Marija Janjic (four shots, three goals). In response, Besanรงon countered through Clarisse Mairot, who was outstanding throughout the match (eight shots, seven goals). The group from Besanรงon held on (8-9; 12-12). Just before halftime, the home team pulled ahead on the scoreboard following a slight lapse from Nice. 14-13 for Besanรงon at the break, and everything needed to be redone for Nice.
Nice fought with heart
Upon returning from the locker rooms, Nice regained the lead and held a three-point advantage after a successful 7m throw by captain Ehsan Abdelmalek (14-17). Nice maintained their lead and seemed to have dispelled any doubts (17-19; 18-20). But that was without counting on Besanรงon’s goalkeeper, Roxanne Frank, who made ten saves during the match. She revived hope for her team, which seemed to have recovered from this setback (22-20; 26-22). Besanรงon rolled over Nice’s team at home, who seemed shaken (29-24).
It was too much for the overwhelmed Aiglonnes, who fought courageously until the end but ultimately faltered against the team from Besanรงon, which achieved a fifth victory in six playoff matches, securing their place in the LBE’s top 4, synonymous with European qualification for next season.
As for Marjan Kolev’s players, they leave with a sixth defeat in as many matches played. The unfortunate series continues for OGC Nice, who will try to end their season as best as they can against Bourg-de-Pรฉage, at Charles-Ehrmann sports hall, on May 7th.
