League

Suna No Kuni
Spectators: 7406 (Terracing: 5555, Seating: 1703, VIP seats: 148) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Chris Herry got the match started through his kick off. After having played for 5 minutes, Désiré Collado managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Suna's supporters crossed their fingers, but Désiré Collado was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Désiré Collado received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Blaise Campion tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mike Bultez received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Carlos Alberto Solari tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Alexis Dufour hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. 17 minutes into the game, Marcel Courtot was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Suna's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave OGC Nice the free kick. Martial Chomat received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 20th minute. Carlos Alberto Solari tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Chris Herry blasted a shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Blaise Campion having to make a save. After having played for 26 minutes, Désiré Collado managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Suna's supporters crossed their fingers, but Désiré Collado was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Chris Herry had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 37th minute, Martial Chomat made a precise shot to the right of Carlos Alberto Solari. Suna's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Désiré Collado struck a weak shot in the 48th minute. Blaise Campion didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Suna. After the first half OGC Nice were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Martial Chomat to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Martial Chomat in the 56th minute of play forced Suna's goalkeeper Carlos Alberto Solari to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Désiré Collado had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Martial Chomat fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carlos Alberto Solari having to interfere. Gaston Palin kicked well hit freekick during the 72nd minute of the match. In the 73rd minute of the match Jean-Michel Monteiro shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Blaise Campion showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 74 minutes into the match, Suna's goalkeeper Carlos Alberto Solari had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mike Bultez. An unexpectedly hard shot by Chris Herry in the 76th minute of play forced OGC Nice's goalkeeper Blaise Campion to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Carlos Alberto Solari made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mike Bultez in the 80th minute. Gaston Palin charged in rather forcefully in the 82nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Gaston Palin the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Suna booed when OGC Nice was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gaston Palin didn't get a good kick on the ball. Carlos Alberto Solari made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Martial Chomat in the 91st minute of play. The OGC Nice supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing OGC Nice would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.