Match report

Le Gym beaten by Ipswich in their final pre-season friendly (1-0)

August 10 2024, 03:59 PM

OGC Nice were beaten by Ipswich on Saturday (0-1) in their final pre-season match.

Football can be unpredictable at times, and that's part of its beauty. This Saturday, at Portman Road, against a team newly promoted to the Premier League and who will start their season a day before Nice (against Liverpool), Les Aiglons were evenly matched in the first half. They then dominated the second half but were defeated somewhat against the run of play by a scrappy corner that Tuanzebe managed to turn into the back of the net (1-0, 58’).

More energetic and better organised, Ipswich displayed greater confidence and solidity. In the first half, Ipswich attempted a few shots and earned a few set-pieces but never truly threatened the goal guarded by a focused and in-form Bułka. When Kieran McKenna's side had their most significant period of dominance in the first half, they were penalised.

After Boga was substituted due to an injury, Bouanani, who replaced him, won the ball in midfield and passed it to Boudaoui on the edge of the box. With a classy move, the "Prince of Béchar" set up Evann Guessand, who was brought down in the box. Unfortunately, Mohamed-Ali Cho hit the post with his penalty kick (42’), and both teams went into the half-time break with the score still at 0-0.

Attacking Defense

When they came back out, Nice stepped on the gas. Supported by a defensive trio of Mendy, Rosario, and Dante playing high up the pitch, they dominated the local side. Clauss almost opened the scoring, but his shot beat Muric only for Edmundson to clear it off the line (47’). Franck Haise's men conceded the goal from a corner just before the hour mark but continued to press forward, especially down the flanks, where the partnerships of Louchet – Bouanani and Clauss – Cho were very active. However, something was always missing to turn these promising chances into an equaliser. Laborde's toe-poke, blocked at the last second within six yards of the goal (84’), was one such example, as were the shots from Dante, Clauss and Cho, which were either deflected or off-target.

Despite dominating the second half, Nice nearly conceded a second goal, but Bułka made a brilliant save to deny Harness. In the end, despite the fresh legs of substitutes (Ndombele, Laborde, Bard, and later Orakpo), the Rouge et Noir had to accept a narrow defeat. However, they fought until the end, finishing the match with four forwards (Bouanani, Orakpo, Guessand and Laborde) in a 4-2-4 formation.