Nice sports are smiling again this weekend thanks to the victory of OGC Nice over Marseille (2-1). In water polo, ONN secured a draw against Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille. At the leader Fleury-Loiret, OGC Nice Handball earned a good 19-19 draw. However, the adventure at the Australian Open ends for Simon and Cornet as early as the third round.
Handball: OGC Nice Handball enjoys challenging the big teams
After securing a draw on the Metz field 10 days ago, OGC Nice Handball achieved an excellent 19-19 draw at the Ligue Fรฉminine leaders, Fleury-Loiret. Trailing 13-10 at halftime, Sรฉbastien Gardillou’s team showed patience and collective strength to tie Fleury in the last seconds of the game. In fact, the score was 19-17 with two minutes remaining. Beatriz Escribano and Dienaba Sy scored the last two goals. These two points (one at Metz, one at Fleury) make up for last week’s home disappointment against Le Havre. With this result, the Niรงoises move up to 7th place in the standings, one point behind 6th place, with a game in hand (against Issy Paris on February 2nd).
Top scorers: Lacrabรจre (6), Daquin, and Knutsdottir (4) / 16 saves by Clรฉopรขtre Darleux.
Water polo: Nice holds the Marseille leader to a draw
A week after its narrow defeat at the reigning French champion, Montpellier (11-10), Olympic Nice Natation achieved a small feat by securing a 14-14 draw against Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille. The Niรงois even believed in victory after leading 14-12 in the final minutes of the match. With this solid draw, ONN remains undefeated in its Jean-Bouin pool for a year and two months. The Niรงois are third in the standings with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses.
Nice scorers: Izdinsky (4), Babic (3), Bruyรจre (2), Nastran (1), Divkovic (1), Rodin (1), Laversanne (1), and Jablonski (1).
Tennis: Simon and Cornet best French players but eliminated in the third round
Gilles Simon, alongside Richard Gasquet, was the best French tennis player during the first Grand Slam event in Australia. The Niรงois defeated Haase (NED) and Granollers (ESP) before losing to David Ferrer (ESP), the 9th seed, in 4 sets: 2/6 5/7 7/5 6/7. Simon should remain around the 20th position in the upcoming ATP ranking.
Similarly, Alizรฉ Cornet, eliminated in the 3rd round just like her compatriot Caroline Garcia. The Niรงoise initially dominated Zhang (CHN) then Allertova (CZE) but struggled against Cibulkova (SVK) in two sets: 5/7 2/6. Alizรฉ Cornet, 19th before this Australian Open, might drop out of the Top 20.
Football: OGC Nice continues to surprise
Thanks to their splendid victory against Olympique de Marseille, Friday evening, 2-1 with goals from Romain Genevois and Niklas Hult, OGC Nice finishes this 22nd Ligue 1 day in eighth place. Claude’s team confirms their revival and is only two points away from seventh-place Bordeaux. Next meeting for the Niรงois, Saturday (8 PM) at the bottom-ranked team, FC Metz.
Photo credit: OGC Nice Handball
