Despite a complete performance, the Aiglons were surprised by a much more efficient Monaco team (1-2). The cup adventure ends here.
Exciting, savory, frustrating. The 90 minutes are perfectly summed up in these three adjectives. Facing its fiercest rival, the Gym did not disgrace itself. Far from it. They dominated most of the game (75% possession at halftime, 73% at the end), initially relying on the numerical and technical superiority of the trio Lees-Melou – Tameze – Seri in the midfield, then on collective will in the second half. They created chances but were stung by Monaco’s realism, in the perfect replica of the last duel between the two teams at the Allianz Riviera (minus the extent of the score).
Very quickly, the Red and Blacks thrilled their audience. Very quickly, they were punished by a clinical visitor. In two minutes, Plea played the pivot in the red and white racket, but Srarfi saw his shot go wide. In three minutes, Keita Baldé delivered a perfectly met cross by Lemar, well-positioned between Dante and Burner (0-1, 3’).
Not shaken at all, Dante’s team, set up in an effective 4-3-3 but deprived of Super Mario (injured buttock), did not break apart. Saint-Maximin, swift like the wind, caused Sidibé, his former teammate, countless troubles. In the 9th minute, number 7 got past his direct opponent, penetrated the box, but was blocked by Benaglio. In the 17th minute, he provided a gem to Alassane Plea, whose run at the edge of offside — scrutinized for the first time by video refereeing in the League Cup — beat Jemerson, paused, and then tricked the Swiss keeper with a powerful shot at the near post (1-1, 17’).
The Allianz rose, saluted number 14, and nearly exploded when, right afterwards, a sensational Seri served the same Plea in the box, whose shot was this time deflected by Jemerson (24’).
Comfortable in their passing, fluid in their sequences, Lucien Favre’s team injected speed and quality into the proceedings. Their noble efforts were not enough. Opposite, the Ligue 1 runners-up relied mainly on their offensive individualities. On Lemar’s freedom and talent, Keita Baldé’s speed, Diakhaby’s desire. The latter two offered their team the lead before the break when the former Lazio player crossed again from the right, and the former Rennes player struck a half-volley, sending the ball back from where it came (1-2, 44’). It all had to be done again, but the Nice faithful had reasons for hope at halftime…
DESPITE 2 EQUALIZING CHANCES…
A double save by Benaglio, on a Lees-Melou strike well followed up by Srarfi, kept the fire alive right after the restart. An outstanding tackle by Malang Sarr in front of Keita Baldé, launched deep but caught by the 18-year-old center-back, reminded everyone that a predator without the ball remains dangerous when it regains possession.
The pattern of the first half largely repeated in the second. Nice maintained control at every moment, and had an enormous equalizing chance at the hour mark. Plea took advantage of a superb long pass from Sarr, poorly read by Glik, to deliver a perfect cross into the box, but Lees-Melou, alone at 6 meters, missed the target (64’).
Lucien Favre sent on Wylan Cyprien and Ignatius Ganago in the final 20 minutes to force a decision. Jemerson removed a second equalizing chance from Srarfi’s foot, the Red and Blacks exposed themselves and went all out, leaving spaces in their defense…
They couldn’t manage to snatch the penalty shootout.
Eliminated from both domestic cups, the Azurean group still has bright prospects ahead in early 2018: maintaining form in Ligue 1, starting Saturday against Amiens, and securing a ticket to the Europa League round of 16 against Lokomotiv Moscow.
