The mission is almost accomplished for the eaglets who bring back a point from their trip to Toulouse. Certainly not enough to mathematically ensure their survival, but encouraging against a Europa League contender who nearly succumbed at the end of the match.
It was Monzon, faithful to his position, who ignited the first spark in the opening minutes of play, forcing Ahamada to go low on his attempt. Then Civelli with a header and Coulibaly, who hit the left post following a good run and a fine shot, continued to pressure the local defense. OGC Nice entered the game well, and the first quarter-hour was largely in their favor. Toulouse seemed unable to play their usual game and the Niçois were little troubled until Regattin, after a good breakthrough, adjusted Ospina but could do nothing against his crossbar, which came to the rescue at the right moment. The threat was close, and the Toulousains seemed invigorated by the end of the first half, which ended with a goalless draw that was quite logical for both teams that had each “hit the woodwork.”
The second half began with a Toulouse press driven by the 30,000 spectators at the Stadium, but neither Regattin nor Capoue converted their chances into goals. The Azuréens could no longer get out of their half, but the Nice backline was alert, thwarting all Toulouse attempts. Ospina operated flawlessly against Sirieix at the hour mark, and René Marsiglia sent in Palun in place of Sablé. The match lost momentum, and play became much more fragmented. Dja Djédjé and Coulibaly combined well on the right, and the last pass from the duo found Palun unmarked in the center, who controlled and followed with a fine shot that found Ahamada in its path. Gonçalves, crippled by cramps, then made way for Bahoken. The game seemed to regain some life, and it was even the Niçois who showed enterprise with Dja Djédjé and Bahoken interfering with each other in the box after the former had done well to lose his marker; the latter’s shot was blocked by Abdennour. The Niçois regained composure, and Civelli could have been better rewarded for his headed attempt cleared by Rivière. A last intervention from Ospina saw him catch a final Toulouse free-kick centered into his area, and Mr. Bastien sent both teams to the showers with the same goalless draw score as the first half.
The points taken are no longer available to be taken, and the Niçois return from their difficult fixture with a precious point. The next objective for the eaglets is now the encounter against Evian, next Sunday at Ray, where, should they win against their evening hosts, they could even secure survival, giving them the opportunity to head to Lyon on the final matchday to play a game that will count for “bread and butter!”
To be continued…
