OGC Nice loses 1-0 at the very end of the match in the derby against Monaco. Despite having a numerical advantage for 45 minutes (Abdennour sent off), the Aiglons lacked efficiency and got countered. A defeat that will be painful before playing away twice (Montpellier then Bastia).
Cruel. Frustrating. Terrible. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe this defeat against AS Monaco, which deals a real blow to the Gym after 6 matches without a loss. The Aiglons tried but failed in a match that seemed within their reach given the scenario. In a match of more than average quality, Monaco was pragmatic and scored on one of its rare opportunities.
Just like against Nantes and Lille, the Gym starts the match perfectly and creates the first chances. As early as the second minute, Jordan Amavi breaks down his side, crosses, but Alassane Plea controls with his chest and lets Subasic, the Monaco goalkeeper, take the ball. Nothing more happens until the 15-minute mark with a weak shot from Carlos Eduardo (0-0, 16th minute). The Gym has possession of the ball and the midfield and makes the men from the Principality run, without showing any danger.
The first chance for Monaco comes in the 38th minute when Dimitar Berbatov sends Matheus deep, but his shot goes wide. The injury toll then starts on both sides with Layvin Kurzawa getting injured first, followed by Lloyd Palun. The turning point of the match occurs in added time of the first half with Aymen Abdennour’s very dangerous tackle on Romain Genevois’ knee. The referee doesn’t hesitate and shows the red card. Just as against Lille the previous week, Nice is to play with 11 against 10 for half a match.
“We started the match well by creating chances. After that, we struggled more, we lost the ball too quickly. The start of the second half was sluggish even though the tactical change (entry of Bosetti) was beneficial,” Claude Puel explained in a press conference.
A particularly dull second half for fifteen minutes with only one chance worth mentioning: Carlos Eduardo’s free kick was easily caught by ASM’s goalkeeper. The Allianz Riviera falls asleep until the 65th minute when the Niçois speed up the play. First, it’s Kévin Gomis who creates a good chance. The Nice defender’s header is cleared at the last moment by Touré. Immediately after, Carlos Eduardo, the February unlucky one, thinks he’s scored, but his header hits the crossbar of Subasic who seemed beaten (0-0, 66th minute).
Despite having a numerical advantage, the Niçois can’t make it, show impatience, and don’t trouble a very solid Monaco defense, exemplified by an imperial Jérémy Toulalan. Chaos was in the air and indeed happens five minutes before the end of the match. After an ASM free kick, Kévin Gomis takes too long to clear his area, and worse, he clears into the center. An initial shot from Ferreira-Carrasco is blocked, but Bernado Silva is lurking and scores with a side-foot past Hassen (0-1, 85th minute). Just before added time, Carlos Eduardo and Gomis get in each other’s way in the box, even though they were alone near Subasic’s goal. The Croatian goalkeeper saves his team with two saves on chances from Bosetti and Eysseric.
For the third consecutive time at the Allianz Riviera, the Gym loses to their Monaco rivals. This is already the fifth home defeat this season. Depending on the results of the 26th matchday, OGC Nice could find itself in the second half of the table and watch the red zone get closer. And the schedule gets tougher with two consecutive away games at Montpellier and Bastia… In football, everything can change quickly in one direction or the other.
Photo credit: OGC Nice Media
