7 minutes into the game and OGC Nice is already leading on the scoreboard. The first slight chills of the end of the season and the defeat in Auxerre are shelved in the category of bad memories. Furthermore, Nice is dictating the play well, combining effectively, and Laslandes has regained his wings in the air at the Ray, delivering numerous precise balls from a particularly sharp back line featuring an outstanding Apam and Rool. In short, sheer delight for the 11,000 spectators who chose to spend their early evening on the Nice hill.
The happiness quickly doubled with a cross from Rool that found the ever-present Laslandes, who with a pinpoint pass placed the ball onto Koné’s head for a second goal. Two consecutive header goals, it’s a first for the little Ivorian gem who now provides the red and black team with a two-goal lead over the greens, whose only sparkle was their new jersey color. Feindouno tries to lift his teammates’ spirits from the Nice tide, but it’s still Antonetti’s men who control the game, reaping a majority of favorable counters. Nice is pressing, but Saint Etienne resists. Cédric Varrault marks his return to Ray with a yellow card for a foul on Ederson, and Rool eventually leaves his place, injured, to Arbardonado, who receives a nice ovation from the stands. Mr. Layec indicates the direction of the locker rooms, and it’s with a perfect score of 2-0 that he sends both teams to recover from their first half.
Well, we carefully avoided the stadium toilets and queued for ten minutes to contain our Pan Bagna and small rosé. Just as the hostilities resume on the green rectangle, Koné is still in great form, but after a burst of speed in the Stéphanoise box, he exits the pitch limping, having injured his thigh, leaving his spot to Job. The game resumes and Letizi, momentarily uncertain to play, proves his injury is just a bad memory with two magnificent interventions to stop the green advances. Only eight minutes of play remain, and like in a dream, it’s deliverance with a clear strike from Hellebuyck that deceives Janot for the third time. The deal was sealed, and the penalty missed twice by Job, though both stopped by Janot, will only be a footnote to a victory well-deserved by a brave and creative Nice team. The Nice from Marseille was on the pitch tonight, and it’s a big Saint Etienne team that paid the price this time.
But the other good news of this wonderful evening lies in the standings with 14 points, granting them a 7th place, just one tiny point away from Rennes, Bordeaux, and Lyon. Who wouldn’t have signed up for such a scenario at the beginning of the year? Now they need to confirm on Saturday at Le Mans, who just pulled off a nice operation with a victory (0-1) in Strasbourg, offering them the third step on the Ligue 1 podium. A perilous trip before hosting Metz at Ray on Saturday, October 20th.
The eagles are therefore revitalizing and gradually climbing the steps toward the top. However, be careful not to soar too high, but we trust General Antonetti to put a little commando spirit back into the red and black squad. Well, there you go, I’m even buying Nice Matin tomorrow!
