Lyon 3-2 Nice

A cruel ending

OGC Nice fell to defeat in Lyon during the final game of the season (3-2). Bordeaux and St-Etienne both won at the same time and so the Red and Blacks finish the 2017/2018 season in 8th place of L1.

“If you want something doing right, you have to do it yourself”, goes the expression. The Gym didn’t manage to do it during Week 38 of Ligue 1, and given that its direct competitors did the job, they leave this final chapter of the season frustrated by an ending that could have been so different. Like the many ups and downs since summer 2017...

Because of a talented opposition more than down to strategy, the Aiglons played very deep in their own half and looked to counter for the 90 minutes. The ball didn’t escape them though, despite several impressive Lyon attacks. During the first half of the game, as soon as Dante and co. pushed forward, they looked dangerous.

Although the first opening for Super Mario found Saint-Maximin in behind, the second sent Plea through directly on goal. Plea made no mistakes and got his 15th goal of the season in L1, by converting a crazy run with one touch, which passed through the legs of Gorgelin (1-0, 18’). The right reward for a training ground move, started with the deep recovery of the ball, which was then flicked forward by Mario and finished by “Super Lasso”.


Before they had opened the scoring, Nice gave away several opportunities to the other side. But in the image of Tameze – at the base of the 4-3-3 who was out to battle – to deny Mendy (3’) or from Seri to prevent Memphis and Fékir (5’ and 13'), there was, at first, always a Niçois to save their side. Lyon tried from distance but couldn’t find the target (strikes from Fékir and Tousart flew over in the first quarter of an hour). After the Nice goal, Benitez dived on a header from Aouar (23’), Dante deflected a cross from Mendy onto the post (31’), and the Gones tried to get a penalty in any way they could. Mr. Bastien kept his head, correctly and the pressure went up a notch, but the Niçois stood up and were counted, tried to keep the ball when they had it and to sting the opponent when they came out with it.

After a pass into the middle from Le Marchand flicked on by Seri, Cyprien found the Lyon post with a strike, just before the half-hour mark.

A missed game shot

In short, everything was moving quickly, from one side to the other. Something which was confirmed from the beginning of the second half, when Walter Benitez needed to pull out a monstrous save to push away Aouar’s effort, probably the best Lyon midfielder of the evening.

The waves of home attacks ended up coming off thanks to the generosity of the Niçois. Too soon in the match, unfortunately. In the wake of Mariano, who came on at the break and played a huge part in a tactical change which paid off (the 4-4-2 transformed into a 4-2-3-1), OL upped the intensity. With speed. And desire. Lucien Favre’s side didn’t manage, despite the best of intentions, to hold off their opponent. Fékir got the ball with a bit of luck and crossed in front of goal, Depay equalised (1-1, 48’) and everything needed to be redone. Benitez made several key saves, Mariano headed over (57’), and as the minutes passed, everything became more difficult.

Despite this, the Gym loosened the grip. Came out progressively but missed, very quickly, a huge chance… In the 60th minute, Balotelli, so consistent this season, found himself alone on the penalty spot, one on one with Gorgelin, after a blocked shot from Plea. Believing maybe that he was offside, he missed a huge opportunity, which lead every fan to begin to doubt. That feeling was reinforced minutes later, when Depay tricked everybody, including Benitez, by striking a free-kick along the floor viciously and successfully (2-1, 65’).

Plea, thought he had equalised 10 minutes from the end, but the Lyon keeper saved excellently (79’). From the following corner, the Niçois didn’t make the most of a goalmouth scramble, and the season delivered its final verdict after Memphis signed off his hat-trick on the counter (3-1, 86').

Plea’s brace (3-2, 88') allowed the squad to leave the pitch with their heads held high.

But with regrets.

C.D.

Lyon, Groupama Stadium,
Olympique Lyonnais 3-2 OGC Nice (0-1 at half-time)

Week 38 of L1 - 19/05/2018

60,000 spectators approx.

Referee: Benoît Bastien

Goals: Depay (48', 65', 86'); Plea (18', 88') for Nice

Yellow cards: Morel (40'), Rafael (70'), Ferri (70') for Lyon ; Balotelli (20'), Benitez (53'), Plea (70') for Nice

Red cards: 

Olympique Lyonnais: Gorgelin - Rafael (Maçal 77'), Marcelo, Morel, Mendy - Ndombele (Mariano 46'), Tousart, Aouar - Fékir (cap) (Ferri 84') - Traoré, Depay.

OGC Nice: Benitez - Souquet, Marlon, Dante (cap), Le Marchand - Tameze (Le Bihan 70'), Cyprien, Seri - Saint-Maximin (Srarfi 77'), Balotelli, Plea.

 86') ; Plea (18', 88') pour Nice

Avertissements : Morel (40'), Rafael (70'), Ferri (70') pour Lyon ; Balotelli (20'), Benitez (53'), Plea (70') pour Nice

Expulsion : 

Olympique Lyonnais : Gorgelin - Rafael (Maçal 77'), Marcelo, Morel, Mendy - Ndombele (Mariano 46'), Tousart, Aouar - Fékir (cap) (Ferri 84') - Traoré, Depay.

OGC Nice : Benitez - Souquet, Marlon, Dante (cap), Le Marchand - Tameze (Le Bihan 70'), Cyprien, Seri - Saint-Maximin (Srarfi 77'), Balotelli, Plea.