For the opening day of the Nationale 2, the team from Nice triumphed in style (32-21). Prades-le-Lez, the last winner of National 3, couldn’t do anything about it.
The Niçois, dressed all in white, unveiled their new jersey. It was Rémi Koubar, the creator of a magnificent design, who kicked off the match. The start of the game was tight but it was Prades who scored first in the opening moments.
The two teams were neck and neck despite the failures faced by the visiting goalkeeper. The Aiglons managed to overcome their two-goal deficit to level the score at the 8th minute of play (3-3). By the tenth minute, Nice had pulled ahead, leading by two goals, thanks in particular to multiple saves by their goalkeeper Eden Speno.
Driven by their new recruits, Cavigal was in front with a four-goal lead. Thanks to well-constructed, fluid gameplay and perfect finishing, the Aiglons were logically ahead on the scoreboard.
At (16-10) at halftime, the Nice team was serious and focused in defence but also realistic and clinical in attack. On the Prades side, things were much more complicated in terms of offensive play construction. The Héraultais could not find a solution to counter the Niçois attacks.
A One-sided Second Half
The Eagles returned with the same intentions after the break and continued to lead at the top. They even achieved the largest gap of the match, with a seven-point lead.
Cavigal soared and quickly led by 9 points. The Niçois took advantage of their double numerical superiority to pull ahead. Eden was on form in goal, making a magnificent double save.
A great home victory for the Aiglons, who kicked off their season in the best possible way. At the end of a serious match where the new recruits shone, along with the club’s young players. This bodes well for the rest of the season and the trip to Marseille next week.
“I’m happy with the result, the players, and the mindset. We were strong in defense, and the goalkeeper followed through, so everything went well. A good evening for us,” said coach Jean Zephirin Gerald.
The Recruits and Young Players Put on a Show
In the image of their young goalkeeper, voted man of the match and who made fourteen saves. The young players perfectly stepped into their first season with the seniors. Their integration was praised by their coach: “I don’t need to manage them, they’ve been here for over 6 years at the club, they know the game perfectly. I’ve chosen them since they were little. They have been working with me from the beginning, so they integrate easily.”
The recruits also brought the ingredients for success. In particular, Romain Bovéron and Mainar Perez Oscar, who scored five and four goals, respectively. Recruits who have perfectly integrated into their new team. Much to their coach’s delight: “We worked hard, we started preparation early. We tried to create plays to incorporate them. They are well integrated. Now the championship is long, it’s only the first match. Next week we go straight to Marseille to face direct competitors, so we’ll have to continue like this.”
