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A goal just before half-time, another just after and a final goal in the dying stages of the game: the match this Saturday evening saw OGC Nice fall into Angers’ trap during Week 25 of  L1 (3-0 defeat). After looking comfortable on the ball in the first 45 minutes, the Aiglons were’t able to bounce back after the break. 

The features

“It’s a shame because, we had been warned. We played short and we were hit on the counter.” This was the reaction of Rémi Walter when speaking to beIN SPORTS at half-time and perfectly summed up the Gym’s first half. In fact, it goes as far as summing up the whole 90 minutes. After playing some smart stuff and remaining alert in the first period, the Aiglons fell to the Angevins’ realism. They may well have had the bulk of the possession, particularly before the break. But dominating isn’t enough, particularly when you concede two hammer blows in 3 minutes, either side of half-time.

The Gym had done nearly everything correctly before conceding the first goal, which came after they had given the ball away in midfield, and were hit on the counter at 2000 km/h by SCO and ended with a penalty for Bahoken (1-0, 44’). The Gym created a couple of chances: an off-target effort from Burner (10’); a toe poke from Jallet after Tameze had done brilliantly to break into the box, and then a strike from Ganago, which were both pushed away by Butelle. But the Niçois were unable to find the final ball and went in at half-time trailing. And they were then caught out from the get go in the second, after a quick move from the home side made everything more complicated (2-0, 47’).

Nice kept the ball but were never really able to test the Black and Whites in the second half, despite an impressive strike from a tight angle from Ganago and Cyprien’s free-kick from distance. They conceded another goal in the final moments of the game, making the defeat even more bitter.  

Coach Vieira’s choices

Forced to make up for several absences, Patrick Vieira put his confidence in a 4-3-3 to get the ball down and play. Malang Sarr and Dante made up the central pairing, Patrick Burner on the right and Christophe Jallet on the left.

In the middle, like in the Lyon game, Vieira opted for a Tameze – Cyprien - Walter trio. Not seen in the starting eleven since the Coupe de la Ligue match against Auxerre, Bassem Srarfi played on the left of the attack, Eddy Sylvestre on the right and Ignatius Ganago through the middle.

From the start of the second half, the Aiglons’ coach tried to bring on some fresh blood, sending on Makengo, Lees-Melou and Diaby-Fadiga. Rémi Walter moved out left, leaving PLM in the midfield. 

The goals

44’ Just before the break, Bahoken sent Walter Benitez the wrong way from the penalty spot. The penalty was won after the Niçois had lost the ball in the centre circle. Tait played Fulgini in deep and the former VA man was brought down by Jallet.

47’ A training ground move, started by Ndoye, who found Bamba in space on the right of the Angers attack. The full-back used his pace and crossed from the goal-line, finding a withdrawn Fulgini, who struck first time and left Benitez with absolutely no chance.

90+2' Having only just come on, Cristian Lopez made the most of a cross from Traoré to score with his head and get the final goal of the evening. 

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