Football: in the U17 national championship, Nîmes Olympique let its chance slip away against Nice

Players and staff of the U17 national crocodiles: here we go for the 2024-2025 season. MIDI LIBRE – E. DZ.

U17 nationals/1st day. Initially dominant, the Crocodilets ended up losing to OGC Nice (0-1).

Nîmes Olympique 0 – OGC Nice 1
Synthetic pitch at La Bastide. Half-time: 0-0.
Spectators: around 200. Referee: M.Marty.
Goal for Nice : Aache (71st).
Warnings in Nîmes : Sapède (54th), Conde (83rd).
Warnings in Nice : Galitchi (60th), Laarej (73rd), Baranik (90th+ 2).
NÎMES : Squilbin – S. Guessoum (cousin of Kelyan then Berteaux, 81st), Benkeda, Choquet (cap, Abdesselem 74th) – Krai, N. Sapède (son of Samuel), Conde, Alberto (Ouali 74th) – Bes – Elyazidi (Delsaut 17th), Bouakel.

In the opening of the championship, the Crocodilets held OGC Nice in check for a long time. But they ended up losing thanks to a personal exploit from Aache, a gem of a left-footed shot into the top corner (0-1, 71st).

Salim Fiorentino: “We were good, even very good, but we lacked that goal…"

“That's what makes the difference with these teams: they lock things up”, Salim Fiorentino observed, terribly frustrated. A coach who was nevertheless satisfied with his troops: “We put up a good fight, we were good, even very good, but we missed that goal. We have nothing to be ashamed of”

Each team had its half-time

Each team had its half-time. There were 3 clear chances for the Gardois against none for the Azuréens in the 1st half; only one big opportunity for Nîmes against four for Nice after the restart. But Youst, the Aiglons' goalkeeper, saved Bouakel's half-volley (19th), won his one-on-one in front of substitute Delsaut (24th, who came on to replace the injured Elyazidi) and deflected a free kick from Alberto (37th) on Bouakel, who was clumsy on the shot.

Well organized in 3-4-1-2, NO had let its chance slip away. And, generally dominated during the 2nd half, was caught out just after the freshening break (71st). There had already been several warnings (54th, 58th, 65th). Nice then wasted a 3 against 1 (79th), before Ouali got a nice equalizer, pushed back by Youst (83rd).

Vaillance, consistency… and a bit of talent, too

The crocodile bench then called for a penalty for a small shirt pull (90th+ 1) and more added time… in vain. Under the eyes of the professional coach Adil Hermach, Nîmes had to admit defeat. But with this courage, this consistency and a certain dose of talent, too, the maintenance should be acquired more quickly than last season…

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