Eighth match without defeat and three points in the bag gained in the last minutes of the match, the scenario is perfect at the end of the year, and the base of the Christmas tree is likely to be quite pleasant with a final outing to challenge the Lyon giant on their home ground next Saturday at 8 p.m.
But how badly it started for the eaglets, trailing by two goals within less than fifteen minutes of play. Sagbo (3rd) then Barbosa (14th) both made the nets of Ospina tremble (2-0), and indeed, the red and black confidence was shaken by these two strokes of misfortune. But in such situations, OGC Nice has, in Dario Cvitanich, a true striker capable of turning the tide. First, in the 19th minute, where the Argentine lobbed Laquait, who could only watch the ball slip into the far corner of the net (2-1).
The rest was a story of penalties, starting with a borderline contact on Cvitanich, with Mr. Varela not blowing the whistle. Then a somewhat more obvious handball from Angoula in his area, but again, Mr. Varela chose not to award the penalty. The Azurean defense was diligent, thwarting the extremely rapid counter-attacks of the Savoyards. The final whistle, rightly this time, by Mr. Varela sent both teams to the locker room with the visitors holding a one-goal advantage.
Undefeated at home in nine matches across all competitions, the Niçois launched an attack at the start of the second half, and it took only a few seconds for Mr. Dario to seize his first opportunity to put it into the Savoyards’ nets (2-2). Le Ray couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to the second half, and the 8,000 spectators present expressed their relief and joy.
The game balanced out again, and Claude Puel made his first substitution, replacing Bauthéac with Abriel just after the hour mark. The goalkeepers stood out, with Laquait making a perfect dive to block Pied and Ospina stopping a fine attempt by Brice Dja Djé Djé. As the minutes ticked by, one began to think that a point isn’t insignificant against a team currently in good form. A new tense situation arose, just outside the Savoyard penalty area, with another handball by Lacour, but Mr. Varela preferred to award a free-kick, handing Lacour a yellow card in the process.
With only a few minutes of play left, Claude Puel’s gamble took shape. Two quick substitutions with Bosetti replacing Traoré and Maupay coming on for Pied. The two young players from the Nice academy threw themselves wholeheartedly into the last four additional minutes of the match, which paid off as in the 91st minute, Maupay, on the edge of offside, controlled the ball to beat a helpless Laquait (3-2). The Nice coach succeeded in his final gamble of the match and handed his protégés a new victory, applauded by the entire stadium for several long minutes.
4th in the Ligue 1 standings after 18 rounds, the Niçois can savor this early gift. Although Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux, or Lorient could still outperform the Azurens after their matches, what’s certain is that the upcoming Lyon-Nice match won’t lack spice, next Saturday at Gerland, after the Lyonnais have played the big match of the weekend, tonight at Parc des Princes against Paris Saint Germain.
And what if this year Santa Claus dressed in red… and black!
Photo credit: www.ogcnice.com
