By managing only a draw against an Evian team with nothing left to play for in this 2011/2012 championship, René Marsiglia’s players have once again complicated their task, and it will be at the Lyon giant’s home that the eaglets will attempt not to lose too many feathers at Gerland, at the risk of descending into hell…
And almost immediately, the game plan was revealed with an Evian team playing freely and going all out against a timid Nice team, likely the same, and nervous in their setup. If fortune favors the brave, perhaps misfortune grins at the cautious because, with a relatively innocuous header, Pejcinovic unfortunately deflects the ball into the back of Ospina’s net, who could only witness the damage. It wasn’t yet raining at the Ray, but it was a true cold shower that fell upon René Marsiglia’s men and the ten thousand spectators who responded to the call of the red and black cause. It could have been even worse a few minutes later with Sagbo fortunately being too short on a header attempt from his teammate Barbosa.
It was said that Nemanja Pejcinovic would be the man of the night, and thus, after unfortunately scoring in his own goal, it was the opponent’s net he made tremble following a good free kick from Digard and a beautiful volley from the Serb, which, in fact, freed the Nice crowd who held their breath at every Evian incursion. The Nice players pressed to make up for their deficit, and once again, Pejcinovic was the savior on another Savoyard attempt that the defender furiously cleared. Nothing else was scored in a not very encouraging first half for the Azurens.
Certainly rejuvenated by the coach’s speech, the Nice players showed more initiative at the start of the second half, and Digard forced Andersen into a beautiful leap on a well-placed free kick. With the last four goals scored by defenders, OGC Nice is facing a real shortage from their forwards, and the hoodoo is far from being lifted tonight. Anin and Bahoken entered the game to try to energize Nice’s attacks, but the Savoyard defense remained well organized. Despite some attempts, all as unsuccessful as they were poorly executed, nothing more would be scored in this game where a good part of the stadium wished to see the young Bosetti enter, who nevertheless remained on the bench. With ifs…
Now remains the task of properly preparing for this always complicated trip to Lyon’s territory without forgetting the headphones, which will be plugged into portable radios or other smartphones, on Sunday evening, in order to follow the score updates from the other pitches where the eight other teams still concerned with relegation will be playing during this last and no less dreadful final day…
Photo credit: www.ogcnice.com
