Despite numerous absences and a youthful team, OGC Nice never wavered against the reigning champion, securing their victory in the first half with a brace from a pure product of the red and black youth academy, Stéphane Bahoken. The Aiglons join the Stéphanois in 4th place in the Ligue 1 standings.
After the setback in Saint-Etienne, Claude Puel’s protégés needed to get back on track to stay in the race for a potential European qualification. And right from the start of the match, the tone was set with the first start for Luigi Bruins, flanked by two young players, Bosetti and Bahoken. It was smart coaching by Claude Puel as the first opportunities came from Nice, with Bahoken on the flank trying to find Bosetti, but Hilton intervened. Montpellier attempted to advance through Mounier and Herrera, but Civelli was masterfully vigilant. It was through another incursion by Bauthéac that the Niçois found the opening thanks to Stéphane Bahoken, who left no chance for Jourdren (1-0). The Azureans thus converted their first real opportunity with ball possession clearly in their favor.
The Héraultais tried to recover, but their play in a small perimeter was easily stopped by an uncompromising Nice defense. As often happens in such cases, it was the Azureans who broke away on the counter with Luigi Bruins finding a good relay with Bosetti before sending a beautiful shot off Jourdren’s right post. Unlucky for the Montpellier goalkeeper as the ball fell to Bahoken, who scored his second goal (2-0). A significant advantage after less than 25 minutes of play, no better start could have been imagined for Nice, who continued to threaten without finding the back of the net again. Mr. Chapron sent both teams to the locker rooms with a two-goal lead for OGC Nice.
The second half began with its first changes. Camara replaced Herrera for Montpellier, then Meriem came in for Bruins, while Bosetti was substituted by Diaz. Mounier earned a good free-kick, but his shot flew into the stands, with Montpellier yet to hit a single target since the start of the match. As the game reached the hour mark, Bahoken came close to scoring a third off a good pass from Kolodziejczak, but the young forward was just slightly off, as was the case with his header attempt seconds later before being replaced by Neal Maupay. Girard made his last coaching adjustments, replacing Pitau with Martin and Mounier with Charbonnier. It wasn’t until the final 15 minutes that Montpellier showed any threat, with a beautiful free-kick from Belhanda, but David Ospina palmed it away to a corner. Again, it was Belhanda, undeniably the best Héraultais on the field, who pressed the attack, but this time it was Ospina’s crossbar that thwarted his attempt. Neal Maupay had a last chance, but Jourdren proved formidable, though not unbeatable.
Mr. Chapron blew the whistle to end the match, and the roughly 11,000 spectators at Stade du Ray could rejoice after a great victory and three new points secured in the standings. Tomorrow it would be Nancy, but that’s for tomorrow…
Photo credit: www.nicepremium.fr
