Claude Puel’s men believed until the end, and it paid off as they returned from Gironde with a precious point snatched in injury time against a Bordeaux team reduced to ten and happy to have opened the scoring.
The two recruits were well present on the Bordeaux field with Dario Cvitanich at the forefront of the attack and Jérémy Pied on his right. Unfortunately, the latter had to quickly leave his place to the other newcomer, Eysseric, due to a thigh injury. And it was even the former Monaco player who forced Carasso to intervene a quarter-hour into the game. The game picked up pace, and the Bordeaux players became more pressing, but Gouffran and then Jussié did not show their usual precision, much to the delight of Delle who still had to make efforts against Maurice-Belay and then again against Gouffran, who this time found the Nice goalkeeper’s target. Thus, it was a quite logical goalless draw at halftime.
Returning from the break, it was the Nice team that showed initiative with a fine header from Civelli that forced Carasso into a superb save, while shortly after, the crossbar saved the Nice goalkeeper from a Jussié attempt. The Azureans bent but did not break, mirroring their defense, as impenetrable as during their trip to Valenciennes. As we reached the hour mark, we thought this result was a good opportunity for the red and black side.
A new dangerous play for Cvitanich, but Carasso intervened, not without being touched by the new Nice attacker. Bordeaux defender Sané came to clean up and take matters into his own hands, which earned him the right to return to the locker room after receiving a red card from Mr. Kalt. The Bordeaux team was reduced to ten for the remaining 25 minutes. Delle still had to make efforts twice more against Gouffran, but the chances became rarer on both sides. As the match neared its end, with only four minutes left to play, the referee whistled for a free kick for the Girondins around thirty meters from the Nice goal. A cross to the middle of the box and Saivet, completely forgotten by the Azurean defense, deceived an impotent Delle to open the scoring and reignite the previously quiet stands.
A cruel twist of fate for the Nice team, who had fought well throughout the match without ever giving up. But it was said that this match would be one of combativeness, as after a nice deflection from Civelli, it was the Malian Mahamane Traoré who, after seeing Carasso advance, executed a superb lob that ended in the back of the Bordeaux net for a well-deserved equalizer. Delle would once again showcase his current good form by nullifying the last two chances from Saivet and Henrique, thus earning a valuable point for his teammates.
Photo credit: www.ogcnice.com
