Trailing very quickly after kick-off, the Aiglons reacted in the best way possible, by scoring five goals, including four from Alassane Plea!

Now focussed on one sole objective for the last three months of the season, the Aiglons had the opportunity to get themselves to just one point from 5th place with this trip to Brittany following the results from yesterday evening. Lucien Favre made two changes to the side that finished victorious over Lille eight days ago. Plea moved to the top of the attack due to the absence of Mario Balotelli and that allowed Ihsan Sacko to earn his second start with the Red and Blacks. In defence, Maxime Le Marchand, who was injured in the derby against Monaco in mid-January, returned to the left full-back position.

The Niçois’ start to the game was sluggish to say the least. Troubled by the pace and impact of the athletic Guingamp forwards, the Nice defence was caught out on several occasions. Marlon brought down Thuram in the box and gave away an avoidable penalty (another for Le Gym this season). Despite an impressive effort from Benitez, Clément Grenier opened the scoring (8’). This tricky start could have become nightmarish just seconds later if Mr. Jochem had decided to punish Le Marchand for a questionable challenge on Coco in the box (10’). Luckily, this wasn’t the case and after 15 minutes of struggle, the Aiglons were able to bring their wingers into the game. Saint-Maximin and Sacko on the two wings stretched the Guingamp defence which had been reworked because of Sorbon’s absence. And it was on a counter, following a good interception from Seri that Le Gym were able to get back onto level terms. With two touches, the Ivorian found Sacko in the middle of the pitch, who perfectly played Plea in behind the Guingamp defence. Nice’s number 14 held off the opposition’s defence and excellently found the back of Johnsson’s net to bag the equaliser (1-1, 24’).

The equaliser changed the shape of the game with Nice becoming more resourceful and confident in their ability to cause their opponent problems. Although Benitez was called into action on two occasions, by Briand and then Thuram (35’), the clear cut chances were falling to Le Gym with St Maximin, who just missed the target from a tight angle (40’) and especially Plea, with a lobbed header after an excellent cross from Seri. Johnsson, who was completely beaten, was only too happy to see the ball fall back into his arms after it had struck the post.

Even though Le Gym weren’t able to take the lead before half-time, they would go on to do so straight after their return from the dressing room, through Alassane Plea, who brought down superbly on his chest and squared up Martins Pereira and Kerbrat. The Nice forward finished cleanly with the side of his foot to give his side the advantage. Split between the desire to get an equaliser and the fear of the Nice attacks, En Avant seemed disorganised and Plea, once again, made the most of a good deep pass by Lees-Melou to get his hat-trick and give his side a two goal cushion.

A lead that the Aiglons didn’t manage in the best of ways to begin with, allowing the home side too many chances to get one back. Benitez intervened time and time again to prevent Briand and then Blas before seeing a powerful header from Thuram pass just past his post. The Argentinian stopper was, however, beaten by an own goal from Marlon after a free-kick was sent in from wide. So you would imagine that there would be around ten agonising minutes to come for Le Gym. But they spared us of the grey hairs and ensured a two goal lead once again as Bassem Srarfi, who had come off the bench, was there to head home a cross sent in by Lees-Melou from the byline.

Alassane Plea finally put an end to proceedings with his fourth of the afternoon, as he struck powerfully along the floor. An important win for Le Gym, who put themselves back in the race for Europe, one week before an immense challenge against PSG at the Allianz Riviera.

A.D.

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