The Nice Eagles won a closely contested match against the Bordeaux Boxers (4-3 after overtime) on Friday night at Jean-Bouin. In front of their supporters, the Nice team managed to turn things around after a complicated second period.
The Nice Eagles endured a tough match. A top-tier Ligue Magnus game between the Eagles and the Boxers offered a multi-act scenario. Pascal Margerit’s team had an ideal start but had to withstand a Bordeaux reaction. The decision finally came after an overtime, concluded by Hugo Nogaretto in the 65th minute.
The Nice team quickly imposed their rhythm. As early as the 6th minute, captain Nicolas Ruel scored the first goal with an assist from Teemu Loizeau, who was well served by Adam Nobes. Two minutes later, Teemu Loizeau scored again, confirming the good start by the Azurean team. Nice led (2-0) and had control of the game.
But the Boxers quickly responded. Returning from the first break, Olivier Dimet’s men regained offensive efficiency. Tommy Giroux narrowed the gap in the 22nd minute, taking advantage of work by Jakub Kindl and Jérémy Ouellet Beaudry. Five minutes later, captain Loik Poudrier equalized before Tommy Giroux struck again, giving Bordeaux the lead at the half-hour mark with his second goal. In ten minutes, the Boxers had turned the match around.
The Nice Eagles then endured a tough period. Less accurate in their passing, penalized several times (three penalties in total), they relied on their goalkeeper Alexis Shank to stay in the game. The Nice goalie repelled several attempts from Bordeaux, particularly those by Pierre-Olivier Morin and Kevin Dusseau.
A Controlled End to the Match
Nice regained their effectiveness at the end of the second period. Louis Cirgues, served by Nobes and Jesper Larinmaa, equalized in the 38th minute, reigniting his team before the final pause. Everything was still to play for at the start of the third period.
The tension rose. Both teams traded chances without making a difference. The defenses took precedence over the attacks. Goalkeepers Alexis Shank for Nice and Alex Dubeau for Bordeaux made multiple saves. No goals were scored in the final act of regulation time.
Overtime favored the Nice team. On a quick counter-attack, Hugo Nogaretto found the breakthrough after 65 minutes of play, securing victory for his team. It was a relief for the Jean-Bouin crowd, who saw their players stage a comeback.
With this success, the Nice Eagles confirmed their solidity at home. The Azureans secured a valuable victory against a tenacious Bordeaux team capable of shaking things up. But there’s no time to enjoy or linger for either team, as they will meet again this Sunday on the Boxers’ ice. The game starts at 6:30 PM.
