Nice 4 – 1 OM
Nice : Gouiri (10th), Kluivert (29th, 49th), Delort (61st)
OM : Bard (CSC, 3rd)
OGC Nice is in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France! In a match they have mastered, the Aiglons qualify quite logically thanks to a masterclass by Justin Kluivert.
A match under high intensity
In a colorful first period, the Marseillais took their hosts by the throat. As early as the third minute, Guendouzi found Milik in the deep. The defender battled with Saliba, who deflected the ball towards Under. The Turk’s shot was well deflected by Bulka but bounced off Bard, who unwittingly pushed the ball well into his own net. VAR intervened for a contentious position from Milik at the start of the action but eventually awarded the goal.
Nice did not let themselves down and quickly returned to the score. Thuram was doing a huge job in the midfield before finding Delort at the back post. The Algerian turned and served Gouiri, gone to the edge of the offside. The former Lyon player hooked Balerdi and fooled Pau Lopez with the tip of the foot to equalize.
Kluivert dynamiter
In the aftermath, Justin Kluivert confirmed his good start to the match. After twice catching Luan Peres cold, the Dutch international gave his side the lead. On a Rongier ball loss in midfield, the Aiglons were planning for a 5 on 5 with Gouiri at the stick. The France international found Delort on his right who centred for Kluivert. Yet not the greatest, the Oranje took over with an unstoppable poked header that ended up in the back of the net. Payet had a chance to pull one back but his shot from the edge of the box flew well over Bulka’s pads and Nice led going back to the locker room.
At the break, Sampaoli brought out Balerdi for Bakambu who immediately distinguished himself with a goal logically denied for offside. But in the aftermath, the addition was made for the Marseillais with a de Kluivert missile. From the 22, the winger shot Pau Lopez, guilty of a little hand fault and made the break. Bakambu then stopped Bulka in a head-to-head won by the Nice goalkeeper.
First half since 2011
The Kluivert masterclass continued on the hour mark. On a jewel from the center, he found Delort at the back post. The Algerian made his goalscoring instincts speak for themselves by subtly lobbing Pau Lopez with a half-volley to make the score 4-1.
The end of the match is quite quiet and Nice validates its ticket for the semi-finals. The Aiglons join Monaco and Versailles for their first semi-final since 2011. At the time, they had lost to the winner of the competition, LOSC. But a different fate in 2022 would allow Nice to collect their first trophy since 1997. Eternity.