OGC Nice recorded a magnificent victory over Stade Brestois in the opening game of the Matchday 8 of the Ligue 1 season, despite conceding the opening goal and a last-minute penalty. Elye Wahi, Sofiane Diop and Yéhvann Diouf were the heroes for Les Aiglons. 

Suffering, frustration, despair… followed by courage, passion and sheer joy: Olivier Pantaloni’s men experienced it all on Friday evening at the Stade Francis-Le Blé. One constant throughout, however, was the solidarity shown by Les Aiglons, even at the height of the storm, when Yehvann Diouf was caught out by Ludovic Ajorque’s sharp pressing as Brest opened the scoring (0–1, 15’). Encouraged by his teammates, who never gave up on him, the Côte d’Azur goalkeeper donned the mantle of hero to save the penalty taken by Kenny Lala in the dying moments of added time (90’+10) and secure a famous victory for his side.

What followed? Magnificent scenes of camaraderie amongst the players, who immediately rushed towards their goalkeeper to celebrate the victory, as well as with the supporters, who were quick to cheer on their man of the match. Whilst this victory – which provisionally puts the Gym in 8th place in the Ligue 1 table – is only worth three points like all the others, it does confirm one important undeniable truth: driven by the right spirit, Les Rouge et Noir are united as one on the pitch. Even when everything seems to be against them.

Wahi GETS LE gym IN THE GAME, diouf WINS IT!

In Brest, Pantaloni’s side struggled to get into the game. The opening minutes were a struggle, highlighted by technical errors and Brest’s pressure, which saw Le Gym unable to control the game. Without posing a threat in the first half, the visitors went into the break a goal down and with a frustrating sense of helplessness. But just as at the Groupama Stadium last weekend, Elye Wahi and his team-mates remained positive. Pushing higher and higher up the pitch, they eventually found their rhythm and forced Les Pirates back. The home side were finally being outplayed in the one-on-one battles. Having scored but been unlucky in Lyon, Nice striker Wahi got the team back on track by turning home a corner taken by Mohammed Amoura (1–1, 61’).

It was enough to put all the earlier struggles behind them and set the stage for a nail-biting finish, during which Sofiane Diop quickly made his mark with a header that went close to finding the net from Niels Nkounkou’s cross (67'). It was only a matter of time for the Morocco international, who had made an excellent impact off the bench and proved decisive in the dying moments, unleashing a perfect shot across goal to beat Egil Selvik first time and put his team-mates in the driving seat (1–2, 83').

More clinical than they had been in the Rhône (two shots on target, two goals), Les Aiglons still had a massive scare in the sixth minute of added time, when Isak Jansson conceded a penalty for a foul on Ibrahim Kanté. Facing penalty specialist Kenny Lala, Yehvann Diouf then pulled off a brilliant save to rescue his team, more than making up for the mistake he’d made early in the match. It was symbolic: that, despite its imperfections, this Gym side can rely on the finest of qualities: a huge heart.