There are matches that are as much a pleasure to watch as they are to play, and perhaps that’s what Claude Puel thought during this Round of 32 of the League Cup against Brest. Certainly, everything wasn’t perfect, but with each match, the eaglets seem to be gaining the confidence they sorely lacked in recent seasons. Good reasons to be hopeful before the derby against Bastia, next Saturday at the Ray!
With Traoré suspended, Pejcinovic and Delle on the bench, and Bauthéac resting, the starting lineup was significantly altered, allowing playing time for Ospina, Gomis, and Abriel. And it was these same players from Nice who first posed a threat, with Thébaux needing to punch the ball away after just a few seconds following a good cross from Pied. The pressure was from Nice at the start of the match, and it soon paid off when, in the 10th minute, Kolodziejczak took advantage of a great opening from Meriem to beat the Brest goalkeeper (1-0). It couldn’t have started better for the Azureans who continued to dominate their subject while smartly controlling the ball in midfield. Civelli, as alert as ever, repelled the rare and futile attempts by the Bretons until the 26th minute when David Ospina, unusually for him, made a complete miss off a corner delivered by Licka and punched the ball into his own net (1-1). Certainly, it’s not a good year for the Colombian goalkeeper.
Never mind, Claude Puel’s men pushed forward again but it was the Bretons who, on the counterattack, came close to increasing the score, but this time Ospina was ready. The game balanced out and a good free-kick about thirty meters from Thébaux’s goal was awarded to the eaglets. Meriem, once more, placed a fine cross to the far post for Civelli, who headed it back to Cvitanich in the center, leaving the Breton keeper with no chance (1-2). A new storm hit Brest and the first goal of the season for the Argentine. One last chance for Brest and the match was headed towards halftime, but it was said that it would be Cvitanich’s night as he took advantage, before the referee’s whistle, to double the lead with a beautiful crossed shot following an equally fabulous one-touch deflection from Pied (1-3). Mr. Lesage could now send both teams to the dressing rooms.
The certainly electrifying atmosphere in the Breton dressing room had its effect at the start of the second half as the Brest players appeared more enterprising and incisive approaching Ospina’s goal. Ultimately, it took only 10 small minutes for the home team to level the score, with Ayité redirecting a good cross from Lesoimier with a placed shot, beating a helpless David Ospina (2-3). Indeed, the match came alive and Abriel was not far from adding to the score, but his shot narrowly missed the Breton goals. Next, it was Cvitanich who troubled the Brest defense, and Traoré came dangerously close to committing the foul on the Nice striker, but Mr. Lesage ruled that the penalty was not evident. As the minutes passed, a new setback hit the home team when, following a strong tackle by Touré, an arguably severe red card left the Bretons down to ten men. Tactical changes ensued on both sides with the introductions of Bosetti and Benschop. Digard, very involved in the game yesterday, tried a long shot, forcing Thébaux to catch the ball in two attempts. As the match approached its end, one last spark of inspiration produced what is likely one of the most beautiful goals of these Round of 32 games. A good cross from Genevois found Eysseric, alone in the box, who executed a fantastic bicycle kick leaving no chance for the Breton keeper (2-4).
The message was clear with the same score as 15 days earlier at Stade du Ray, and the Nice players could savor their victory and qualification a few minutes before discovering the draw that would see them host Lyon at Stade du Ray, hoping to reach the quarter-finals of this competition with a taste of Europe…
