The Northerners were joined on the wire at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday by the Aiglons (2-2), saved by the coaching of Franck Haise. They remain 4th in Ligue 1 before the break.
You had to stay at the Allianz Riviera until the end so as not to miss the best. Beyond the additional time initially granted, on a final free kick that LOSC could have avoided, OGC Nice snatched the point from a draw (2-2), Sunday during the 11th day of Ligue 1. The Mastiffs had took the match from the right end by taking possession of the ball and exploiting the width, leaving only crumbs after half an hour of play. Lille often leaned to the left, where the young Matias Fernandez-Pardo, 19 years, shone brightly.
For his first start in L1, the Belgian scored his first goal, an unstoppable strike from the left under the bar (0-1, 17th). Confusing with his dribbling, he was unable to connect sufficiently with Jonathan David afterwards, and LOSC gradually lost pace. On the contrary, Nice ended up coordinating their pressing and multiplying dangerous situations with the speed of Jérémie Boga and Evann Guessand, without creating any clear chances.
Fernandez-Pardo in all the good moves of LOSC
Halftime allowed the Riviera coach, Franck Haise, to modify his system by removing defender Melvin Bard for attacking midfielder Sofiane Diop. Nice then dominated territorially. Tanguy Ndombélé lacked precision with his head (51st) before accurately shifting Jonathan Clauss, decisive passer for Diop (55th, 1-1). Lille, who showed character in the Champions League, knew how to turn their backs to sting again. Fernandez-Pardo once again made the difference and it was Michel Bakker who reaped the rewards (66th, 1-2).
The chances then multiplied on both sides, but Nice faltered in the last gesture when David, Zhegrova and Cabella continued to frustrate each other for Lille. At the very end of the match, Angel Gomes committed an avoidable foul on a desperate cross from Diop.
The last-chance free kick resulted in an involuntary setback from Guessand. Tom Louchet, who was passing by, fired a precise shot to kiss the post of Lucas Chevalier, helpless (90th + 6, 2-2). Both teams are now undefeated in seven matches in L1, with Lille edging Nice by two points to sit in 4th place. But Bruno Genesio’s players do not take advantage of Marseille’s misstep, beaten by Auxerre on Friday (1-3), and remain one unit from the podium.
