Le Gym, ahead at half-time before being reduced to 10 men in the second half, claimed their first league win of the season after an attacking display against Angers at the Stade Raymond-Kopa (1-4).

A very solid performance. OGC Nice won at Angers on Matchday 3 of Ligue 1 in a near-perfect game (1-4). Nice dominated the first half, scoring twice through Ndayishimiye (6‘) and Boudaoui (25’). In the second half, Le Gym were reduced to 10 men after Bombito was sent off in the 64th minute and Angers converted their penalty (67'). But Guessand rounded off this fine victory by scoring two late goals, the first after a run from Boga (72‘), the second from just 3 touches of the ball (85’). With this victory, the Rouge et Noir have 4 points after 3 games.

At kick-off, Franck Haise fielded a 3-4-3 formation, with Ndayishimiye and Bouanani making their first starts of the season in L1. Bułka, Bombito, Dante (capt.), Clauss, Boudaoui, Ndombele, Bard, Cho and Guessand made up the rest of the Nice team.

Le Gym off to a flying start

From the first seconds of the game, the Rouge et Noir imposed their rhythm with a very effective pressing game. It didn't take long for the Côte d'Azur team to make their first attack. After winning the ball high, Boudaoui broke into the box and struck a left-footed shot that Fofana pushed away with both hands (5'). A minute later, the Aiglons already got their reward.  Ndayishimiye headed Clauss's excellent corner home from six yards to open the scoring (0-1, 6'). This early goal set the tone for the match, with Nice aggressive and well organised.

Nice were not content with this first goal and continued to build on their early intensity. Set up by a very active and influential Ndombele, Bouanani unleashed a powerful left-foot shot from the edge of the area, but it flew just over (20'). Moments later, Guessand swivelled and found Bard in the box, but his effort was parried by Fofana, who was already very busy at the start of the match (21'). The relentless efforts of Nice in front of the SCO goal soon paid off again. Hicham Boudaoui, who had been omnipresent since the start of the match, received a fine back-heel from Ndombele and doubled the lead with a left-footed shot that was deflected slightly by the Angevine defence (0-2, 25').

But Le Gym were still not satisfied and continued to attack. Fofana turned away Bouanani's powerful shot for a corner (27'). Ndombele then picked up the ball in the Angevin half and fed Cho perfectly, who was alone in front of Fofana. The Rouge et Noir forward shot with the side of his left foot, but the SCO keeper saved (34'). Angers were in trouble but tried to react with efforts from El-Melali (34‘) and Belkhdim (37’), which were both saved by the alert Bułka. A dominant Nice side went into the break with a two-goal advantage.

Guessand seals Le Gym's win with 10 men

After the break, the home side returned to the pitch with different intentions and a desire to start a comeback. Bombito took the ball away from Dieng, who was in the process of firing a dangerous shot in the box after just 15 seconds. But neither Dieng's shots (49‘, 55’) nor Chérif's attempt (56') allowed Angers to reduce the deficit, at least initially, as things began to get tougher for Les Aiglons. The referee pointed to the spot after Bombito fouled Dieng in the area. Jérémy Stinat gave the Canadian defender a second yellow card and he was sent off. Abdelli made no mistake from the spot (1-2, 67'). Franck Haise then introduced new signing Mohamed Abdelmonem to bolster the defensive line. With Antoine Mendy coming in on the right flank, Le Gym finished the game with the following defence: Mendy, Abdelmonem, Ndayishimiye, Dante, Bard.

It looked like OGC Nice were going to suffer. But Boga, who came on in place of Bouanani, left his mark on the end of the match. The Ivorian international picked up a ball in his own half from the feet of Capelle, then caused havoc in the Angevine defence with a solo run that took out several defenders. He then struck a shot and Guessand, arriving at full speed and seeing an Angevine defender coming back onto the ball, pushed it home (1-3, 72').

Angers tried to put pressure on Nice's defence, but to no avail. Le Gym, united and well-organised, held firm. And Guessand added another goal to his outstanding performance. After a one-two with Boudaoui on the edge of the area, the home-grown player pivoted, turned and saw his left-footed shot hit the back of the net (1-4, 85'). That was the end of the scoring and Franck Haise's side went home with 3 well-deserved points.

Time for the international break

After the international break, OGC Nice's players will travel to the Orange Vélodrome to take on OM on Saturday 14 September at 5pm, on Matchday 4 of Ligue 1.