OGC Nice drew 1-1 at Lorient on Matchday 2 of Ligue 1.

Le Gym thought they had done the hard part just after the hour mark, scoring through Evann Guessand at a sunny Stade du Moustoir. But football is unpredictable. The Rouge et Noir were pegged back by Lorient at the end of a match they had clearly dominated. As a result, they take home a frustrating point from Brittany.

Francesco Farioli made three changes to the side that started against Lille (1-1) last Friday. Pablo Rosario, Sofiane Diop and Evann Guessand started in place of JC Todibo (who suffered a knock in training and was left in the stands), Jérémie Boga (who suffered a thigh injury) and Terem Moffi (who started on the bench due to stomach pains). Bulka, Atal, Dante (C), Bard, Sanson, Ndayishimiye, Thuram and Laborde made up the remainder of Nice's 4-3-3 line-up.

ATTACKING INTENTIONS

With good movement and playing high up the pitch, the opening minutes were promising for Le Gym, who had come to Lorient with attacking intentions. The Aiglons were soon creating danger in the Breton half. Laborde headed Bard's inch-perfect cross just wide at the far post (5'). A minute later, Thuram broke through the Merlus defence and then played the ball back to Diop, who struck from the edge of the area but Mvogo saved in front of Laborde (6'). Sanson's volley was blocked (9'), Ndayishimiye's long-range effort was saved by Mvogo and Bard's shot flew over (15').

However, Lorient were gradually beginning to show their quality and were gaining confidence in the game. Rosario blocked Ponceau's shot (10'), Dieng gave the Moustoir a thrill with a powerful volley from Faivre's cross (12') and Abergel's shot flew over Bulka's goal.

The end of the first half was in the Niçois' favour, as they came up against a defensively solid Lorient block. Following contact with Meïté in the area, Guessand lost his boot, but Mr Ben El Hadj allowed play to continue.

Before half-time, Thuram, who had failed to hit the target after being set up by Atal moments before (31'), burst through the Breton defence with the ball at his feet, using his technique to draw a foul just outside the area (45'). Laborde took the free-kick and curled the ball just inches wide of Mvogo's goal (45+1).

GUESSAND FINDS THE BREAKTHROUGH

After the break, the Rouge et Noir attacked strongly with several clear-cut chances. Set up by Diop, Thuram broke into the box and struck a left-footed shot that Mvogo turned away for a corner (49'). From the set-piece, Sanson found the head of Ndayishimiye who rose higher than anyone else but the opposition keeper followed it well (50'). Guessand fed Sanson on the edge of the area, but the midfielder saw his shot go just over (51').

With the match under control, Le Gym set the tempo in the second half. Mvogo kept out Guessand's effort (54') and the latter's shot was deflected for a corner a few minutes later (63'). Evann Guessand then finally broke the deadlock.

Atal's good cross from the right forced Mvogo to come out, the ball came back to the 22-year-old striker after the Lorient keeper had come to punch clear, and Guessand poked the ball into the back of the net with his left foot to score his 2nd goal for OGC Nice (0-1, 64'). Guessand almost doubled his tally with another effort (69').

LE GYM PUNISHED ON THE COUNTER-ATTACK

Despite being in control of the match, OGC Nice were pegged back by Doucouré, who had come on as a substitute just moments earlier, from a Lorient counter-attack with 15 minutes remaining (1-1, 77'). Galvanised by the goal, the home side pushed forward to take the lead, but the solid Bulka kept out a shot from Le Bris in the area (80').

Stung, Nice went back on the attack. After a good cross from Bouanani to the far post, Laborde saw his powerful shot blocked by Kalulu (82') and Thuram's attempt was also blocked (90'). Bouanani, Boudaoui, Moffi and Brahimi came on for Diop, Sanson, Guessand and Laborde, but the Azuréans were unable to score the second goal and the two teams shared the points.

OGC Nice host Olympique Lyonnais next Sunday at the Allianz Riviera (20:45).

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