Around 12,000 spectators had made their way to a bustling Ray stadium for the arrival of the Lorrainers, and the spectacle did not delay, as within the first minute of play, Ederson sent a neat right-footed shot into the far corner of the opposing goal, while immediately afterwards, Florent Balmont unsuccessfully tested the Nancy goalkeeper. The minutes kept passing, much to the frustration of Puygrenier’s teammates, as Bamogo eliminated him. The Nice striker sent a precise cross towards Laslandes, who failed to get hold of the ball, deceived by a tricky bounce. The only blot on the landscape was the first warning of the match given by Mr. Bré to Cyril Rool after a somewhat forceful tackle on Dia.
The show of quality continued on the Nice pitch with dangerous plays occurring one after another. Laslandes found Bracigliano in his path again, while a header from Ederson just missed the post; it was an all-Nice firework display, yet it did not reflect on the scoreboard. Three minutes before the break, Bamogo seemed to have done the hardest part by placing a superb header towards the Nancy top corner, but the skill of the Lorraine goalkeeper denied the Nice advance with a beautiful save, sending everyone to the locker rooms. Nice had dominated the first thirty minutes of play and undoubtedly deserved better, although Nancy slightly improved in the closing moments of the first half.
After the break, an injured Rool was replaced by Gace. The game resumed, and once again, the Eagles struck first, with Bamogo’s attempt being thwarted by the giant Puygrenier, who also received a yellow card a few minutes later for fouling the same Bamogo. Now it was Lloris’s turn to display his skills by deflecting two strong Nancy attempts via Brisson and then Fortuné, who could do nothing against the ultimate Nice stronghold. As time passed, the score remained unchanged despite lively play and numerous chances. The moment was chosen by David Hellebuyck to relieve the entire stadium. The former green player picked up a ball at thirty meters, dribbled past Biancalani, and dispatched a perfect strike into the nets of Bracigliano, who could only graze the leather and take stock of the damage. The stadium erupted and the scoreboard finally came alive. 1-0, OGC Nice deservedly led the score while 20 minutes were still left to play.
Pablo Correa then urged his players to push, and the advice was closely followed as the red and whites risked everything, exposing themselves to Nice counters. The fatigue of the League Cup match began to show in the Lorraine legs and time continued ticking away. An extra 3 minutes stretched much longer for the thousands of supporters holding their breath until the final whistle by Mr. Bré, which set players and spectators free to rejoice for many long minutes.
Tonight, OGC Nice remained unshaken, proving once again that years pass but do not resemble each other within a red and black house that, in a matter of months, went from Ligue 2 hell to the paradise of Europe.
As they say, long may it continue!
