To score, one must shoot but also make an effort. OGC Nice learned this the hard way on Saturday night against Rennes. Although the Nice team managed 8 on-target shots out of their 14 attempts, these rarely troubled Nicolas Douchez, the Rennes goalkeeper. Throughout the match, the men led by Frédéric Antonetti didn’t pose much of a threat. This was due to far too many inaccuracies, lost balls, and missed crosses,…
During the first half-hour, the play of the Eaglets was completely thwarted by the biting Bretons who were well-organized. With a midfield excellent in ball recovery (aided by the clumsiness of their hosts), Stade Rennais created the best opportunities, including the biggest one of the first half. At the 12th minute, Cédric Kanté missed his clearance. Bruno Cheyrou found himself alone in front of Ospina but the Gym’s goalkeeper pulled off a great save, causing the first shudder of the evening for the fans. If Loïc Rémy had sparked the first action by striking a pivot shot off-target, the former Liverpool player almost blasted through the red and black defense.
The Rennais tried to build up and managed to shoot, unsuccessfully. Lemoine, Thomert, and Fanni tried, to no avail. Nice gradually picked themselves up towards the end of the half and stormed the Breton box but faced a confident and well-positioned team. Just before the break, Rémy crossed for Bamogo who took his chance. Unfortunately for the Gym players, Hansson diverted the ball which was heading towards the goal. Note that tempers flared during this last quarter-hour. Four yellow cards were given; to Diakhité, Traoré, and Faé on one side, and Bocanegra on the other. The American defender could even have received a second warning if Laurent Duhamel hadn’t been very lenient. In any case, the referee left the field to the whistles of the fans, who were admittedly a bit partisan but angry.
Nice misses their chance
Although the match isn’t thrilling, the Niçois start this second half much better than the first, even though their play still lacks reassurance. At the 50th minute, Rémy speeds down the center and takes his chance from 25 meters with a low shot that Douchez catches without difficulty. The pattern repeats a bit later, but the former Lyon player misses the target, again. At the 60th minute, Julien Sablé is close to scoring his first goal since the 2005/2006 season. His free-kick, well curled but lacking power, nevertheless forces Douchez to work hard and avoid a cold shower for Stade Rennais. Because while Nice is more incisive, Rennes is clearly stronger and it shows. The opening score comes at the 67th minute. A beautiful one-touch counterattack initiated by Cheyrou sees Briand rush down the right flank. The Nice defense is in disarray and the international striker centers to Thomert who dives to push the ball into the nets. 1-0, Nice has missed their chance. The Rennais hadn’t created any chances previously in the second half. The Azuréens, stunned and shaky in the box for ninety minutes, fail to respond. Their opponents will now manage the end of the game. Rémy does attempt a solo raid at the 88th minute, but the Swedish Peter Hansson, solid throughout the game, catches up well and stops the striker, who was well on his way, from thrilling the 9,718 spectators at the Stade du Ray. Rennes, having not won in Nice since the 70/71 season, secures a 1/0 victory without really having to push their talent.
