On the occasion of their club’s 120th anniversary, the Nice players were in a celebratory mood. Author of a historic first half in which Franck Haise’s men scored six goals, OGC Nice blew up Saint-Étienne with a surprising 8-0 on Friday 20 September, in the opening of the 5th.my League 1 matchday.
On a pitch that had been completely reworked by the Allianz Riviera stadium manager after weeks of controversy, Nice, dressed in blue – its original colours – to celebrate the club’s anniversary, thrilled a stadium that had been announced as rarely before with sold-out tickets.
“The 120 years will remain engraved in memoryFranck Haise savoured. In any case, it will remain in my memory, because matches with such scores do not happen often, if ever.
Six goals scored before half-time, a great novelty in the 21st centurymy century. A first draw since May 24, 1997 during the 38thmy daytime. Lyon then humiliated Marseille (8-0) by scoring seven goals before the break.
Already a tough 4-0 defeat in Brest
On Friday, the evening of the Greens, who had already been heavily defeated in Brest by 4-0 during the third matchday, quickly took a catastrophic turn. from the 4thmy Minute in, Nice defender Jonathan Clauss, right, crossed for Youssoufa Moukoko. But Dylan Batubinsika deflected it wide (1-0). The ordeal begins.
Three minutes later, Evan Guessand, who had moved to the right, also attacked the Saint-Etienne defence. His cross, which was poorly pushed towards the centre of the pitch, was recovered by Tanguy Ndombélé, who was alone on the penalty spot (2-0). Unused to finding himself in such an advantageous position, the former Lyonnais took advantage of the opportunity to score only the second goal of his Ligue 1 career, more than five years after the one that gave Les Gones victory in a match on the last day of the championship, in Nimes (3-2), 24 May 2019.
With this advantage, Nice continued to press. Before the match, Franck Haise had asked for the defensive animation to finally be effective. He had also expressly asked his attackers to be more decisive after the recurring deficiencies observed in Marseille (0-2) during the last matchday. He was heard in a real wave on the goals of Gautier Larsonneur, who was unable to get off a shot. The Saint-Etienne goalkeeper then provided the masterpiece of the evening: Mohamed-Ali Cho placed a missile from the left after having transplanted himself into the axis at the end of a run from midfield during which Ekwah had sown (3-0, 24my).
In the process, Nice further tortured the Saint-Etienne left-back. Guessand finally thought he could score, but his shot, deflected by Larsonneur, was headed in by young Youssoufa Moukoko, on loan from Borussia Dortmund (4-0, 26my).
Three player changes… that don’t change anything
“We completely overcame it, admitted Saint-Etienne coach Olivier Dall’Oglio. We have forgotten the basics of football: running, winning duels, being together, being a unit. If we also come up against a good team, it hurts, it hurts a lot. »
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Faced with apathy from his players, the coach, who brought the club back to the top this season, tried everything: three changes. Result: Nice scored twice more before the break. Guessand finally scored his goal after a solitary run down the left, a subtle dribble past Yunis Abdelhamid and a caress with his right foot (5-0, 37).my). On fire, he distinguished himself again shortly afterwards. His service to Moukoko was perfect. The German international was radical to close a memorable half at the Allianz Riviera (6-0, 39my).
Ridiculed before the break, Saint-Etienne also lost the second half. Sofiane Diop scored the seventh goal (76my). And Pablo Rosario closed the party, scoring, amid general joy and a penalty, his first goal with the Gimnasio (8-0, 86).my).
“It is a feeling of shame”Olivier Dall’Oglio said after the meeting. “We are not proud of what we have produced. Me first, all the players, everyone. Now that we are together, we know it will be difficult.”
Ideal preparation for Nice before the European Cup
Saint-Etienne remains in the lurch with three points for the moment. Crisis meetings will continue and the Greens’ supporters, whose 350 arrived in Nice abandoned their car park after Nice’s sixth goal, will be groaning loudly.
“I apologizeargued Olivier Dall’Oglio. I know that it is sometimes very difficult to travel, to come and support. They do it with fervour. We were not up to the task. »
On the Nice side, this extraordinary victory allows the Aiglons (7 points) to move to 5my The German side will be able to improve their position in the rankings pending the results of the weekend. And above all, Franck Haise was able to better prepare for his team’s upcoming Europa League campaign. On Wednesday, the opponent will be of a completely different calibre when they host Real Sociedad, last season’s eighth-placed Champions League finalist.
“Winning 8-0 gives us confidence in what we are putting in place, in the players, in the work done”but “It is the regularity that interests me”said Franck Haise. And “I know the four opponents who arrive there. [Real Sociedad, Lens, Lazio Rome, PSG] »continuous.
