This Sunday, OGC Nice Handball Cรดte-d’Azur was defeated away against Nantes Atlantique Handball, 28-27. A new disappointment, the fourth in a row in the championship this season, for Marjan Kolev’s players.
Again a miss for OGC Nice Handball Cรดte-d’Azur. The Gym loses yet again away for the third consecutive time and marks a fourth defeat in six games. A defeat indeed, but an encouraging one for the future.
Parity during the first 30 minutes
That evening, the players from Nice and Nantes were very close. Thanks to the efforts of Marie Prouvensier, Marie Fall, and Djazz Chambertin, the Nice team managed to stand up to their Loire-Atlantique counterparts (4-4; 9th minute). Even better, they stayed ahead on the scoreboard until the 20th minute of the game (7-8; 20th minute).
Against the Nantes game, marked by the strikes of Bruna Almeida de Paula and Nathalie Hagman, the players in red and black did not give in and went back to the locker room with a tied score (12-12; 30th minute). Everything was still up for grabs for both teams.
Another 30 minutes to convince
Back on the field, the game resumed. 30 minutes to clinch victory and finally earn points in the ranking. This time, the game seemed more aggressive, with charging fouls signaled by the referees of the match, Messrs. Sylvain Artes and Benjamin Bolla. Until the 50th minute, the two rivals neutralized each other and couldn’t decide the outcome (18-18; 39th minute).
A first turning point appeared in the match following the injury stoppage of Lucie Satrapova (19-18; 50th minute). After this, the Nice players conceded a 3-0 run (23-19; 47th minute) but did not give up. Marie Prouvensier (Nice), who scored 12 goals from 13 attempts, set an example and gave hope to her team (23-21; 50th minute). Nantes led by a slim two-goal margin.
A single-goal lead, synonymous with defeat
The home team was still not safe from the threat of the players from the South. But Orlane Ahanda (Nantes) drove the nail in deeper (28-26; 58th minute) and her team maintained their lead on the scoreboard. The seconds ticked away, the Gym went all out. Marie Prouvensier, once again, scored from a seven-meter throw (28-27; 59th minute). There was very little time left on the clock to snatch a draw.
A final shot by Lotte Grigel (Nantes) hit the post of the Nice goal, and the referee blew the end of the match. A new 28 to 27 defeat for the valiant Nice players who played until the last minute, but victory slipped away from them once again. It was the third victory of the season for Nantes, who now have 11 points and reclaim 6th place in the Ligue Butagaz Energie standings. OGC Nice is 12th, just two points ahead of Dijon and Cuques.
