This Friday, Cavigal Nice Handball conceded their first defeat against Pontault-Combault. A cruel setback, 27-28, to the Pasteur room which has a bitter taste for the Niçois of Antonio Marcos.
What cruelty! Life may seem cruel, handball is just as cruel. The Niçois du Cavigal can have some regrets after this short defeat at home, against Pontault. Even if on the whole, all is not so black, yet we felt that victory was within reach.
Tight start to the match for 25 minutes
Before this match, Antonio Marcos’ proteges remained on a series of four consecutive victories and have never yet lost in this 2021. Tonight, Niçois and Ponto-Combalusiens were very close, especially during the first 20 minutes when the two teams neutralize each other (1-2; 5-5; 8-8). The Cavigal made up for these small individual mistakes which spoiled a few opportunities. Fortunately, the premises can count on their captain, Joan Amigo, and Jurgen Rooba, both authors of more than crucial interceptions.
It is at the 23e minute things get complicated. It begins with the expulsion for two minutes inflicted on the Nice pivot, Théo Gaspari. Pontault presses on the accelerator and disrupts the defense of the premises which leave too much space. The Cavigal cash a 5-0 in quick succession (10-9; 10-13). Half-time is called with a score of 11-16 in favor of the visitors. Obviously, there is still some road to Nice.
Hope before disillusionment
On returning from the locker room, Nice changed tactics. Antonio Marcos’ men bet on the speed of play and manage to find the interval. Little by little, the Niçois return to the scoreboard (14-18). At the 40e minute, the score shows 18-18, then 20-20 at the 45e. The end of the match will be very long for both teams. Solid in defense and aggressive in attack, the Cavigal manages to turn the situation around and leads 24-21 ten minutes from the end of the match.
Axel Oppedisano (Nice), author of six goals in this meeting, will certainly blame himself for having missed a few opportunities, in particular a seven-meter throw which could have been synonymous with an equalizer for Cavigal. At 26-27, there are only three minutes left to play. Things get worse for the people of Nice with the second temporary expulsion of Théo Gaspari. But Jérémi Pirani, on a new seven-meter throw, gets his team back on track (27-27, 59e). Ten seconds to hold for the locals to snatch the draw.
But it was without counting on a named Gustavo Rodrigues who silenced the whole room with a last goal, thus crucifying the Cavigal with 59 minutes and 55 seconds of play. The referee whistles the end of the match. Cruel defeat for the Niçois who thus concede their first setback of the year. A short defeat, certainly bitter, but where the Eagles showed a positive face, especially in defense, like this fantastic comeback at the start of the second half.
⏱ End of the match against @PCHBofficiel
The Cavigal tilts in the last seconds 2️⃣7️⃣-2️⃣8️⃣#ALLEZCAVI ????⚫️ pic.twitter.com/ygyr49J2rw
— Cavigal Nice Handball (@CavigalNiceHand) February 19, 2021
End-of-match reactions
When it comes to reactions, each player seems to be on the same page. The defeat spoils the feast of the Niçois tonight, but it is not only negative. Basically, the Cavigal will have delivered a big performance against a beautiful team of Pontault-Combault appearing in the top three of the Proligue ranking this season.
Dylan Lopez : “We are a little disgusted. We held on throughout the match, we could even have won it. Pontault assured towards the end and this defeat, we have it through the throat. I hope it will be useful to us. for the next meeting. “
Axel Oppedisano: “I must not miss these three opportunities, especially this duel against the goalkeeper at seven meters. Overall, we lacked lucidity in the middle of the first half. We couldn’t find the spaces, a few fouls and losses of balls were committed. We resolved these defects in the second half. Tonight, there is certainly frustration, but we are on the right track. “
So much positive tonight, all that’s missing is victory. Le Cavigal Nice Handball, 8e in the standings, will try to make up for it next week, at the Dijon reception at the Salle Pasteur.
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