For the last home game of the season, the Nice Eagles faced off against the Angers Dukes. A match that turned in the second period.
In a challenging period following a series of six consecutive wins, the Nice Eagles were looking to bounce back. Frantisek Stolc’s men had in the back of their minds the defeat suffered in the French Cup 10 days ago against these same Dukes. In a festive context, it’s not necessarily the strongest who wins but the one who has best prepared for the match.
In this scenario, neither team stood out at the start of the game. The debates were generally balanced. The Eagles and the Dukes seemed to need some adjustments and made the goalkeepers shine. On that note, it was Raphaël Garnier who had the responsibility to guard the Nice goal. The Frenchman did his job in the first period before faltering a few minutes later.
Because the second period clearly turned in favor of the Angevins. The pace was higher but Nice was unable to capitalize on its chances. In contrast, Angers was going to give the Nice goalkeeper a tough time.
Repeated troubles in the second period
The hostilities began in the 28th minute. While shorthanded, Jonathan Charbonneau completed a beautiful play for the Dukes (0-1). The game opened up, Nice engaged but was punished three times in five minutes. Matthew Prapavessis, Cédric Di Dio Balsamo, and once again Jonathan Charbonneau knocked out the Maralpins (0-4). A scenario almost identical to that of the French Cup, frustratingly so.
The third period did not bring any significant insights. Neil Manning increased the score for the Dukes before Marek Sloboda, returning to the team, managed to salvage some pride (1-5). The scoreboard would not change further. Nice is on a streak of four consecutive defeats. In their misfortune, it’s worth noting that the Azur team’s direct rivals did not shine. Thus, no changes in the standings, but they will need to achieve a positive result on Monday in Marseille to end the year on a high note. The kickoff is at 8 PM.
