UEL Recap: Ten-man Nice snatch a point at home
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Despite having limited options at kickoff owing to suspensions and injuries, OGC Nice battled bravely, earning a two-all draw against FC Twente at the Allianz Riviera after going two goals and a man down.
A tough start...
With Morgan Sanson, Hicham Boudaoui and the suspended Pablo Rosario all joining long-term absentee Terem Moffi on the sidelines, the circumstances were hardly ideal for Franck Haise's side as they sought their first win in the UEFA Europa League, having picked up a draw and losses from their first three matches of the league phase. In attack, the manager also started with the unlikely trio of Youssouf Moukoko, Gaëtan Laborde and Sofiane Diop, all relative strangers to the starting eleven. Twente had to cope with absences as well -- leading scorer Sem Steijn was absent through illness, while goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall was suspended, but that hardly stopped the visitors taking the game to Nice.
From the off, Twente's press made life difficult for Nice, and Daan Rots needed just eight minutes to give the Dutch the lead. Technically lacking, Nice struggled to respond, with an off-target header by Moukoko one of their best chances in the first half.
⏱88'
MOHAMED-ALI CHOOOOOOOOOOOOO! What a reaction from the Aiglons, who equalise a few minutes from time with a numerical disadvantage❤
2⃣- 2⃣ #OGCNTWE | #UEL— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) November 7, 2024
...and a strong response!
Chastened by his team's poor start to the match, Haise would make a pair of halftime changes, bringing on Jonathan Clauss and Mohamed Ali-Cho at the break. Nice were able to put Twente under pressure, winning a succession of corners, but Sam Lammers would double the visitors' lead on the hour, leaving Marcin Bulka powerless to keep out his effort from range.
From there, Haise made more changes, bringing on Jérémie Boga and Evann Guessand, a switch which immediately paid dividends as the former pulled a goal back moments after coming on. However, that joy was short-lived as Sofiane Diop was then sent off with twenty minutes to play, leaving Les Aiglons a goal and a man down as they chased the match. Undaunted, they continued to press for an equalizer and were finally rewarded in the next-to-last minute of normal time as Cho turned in a ball from Clauss, leveling the match. Both teams would try to find a winner, but to no avail as the match ended level.
Nice will now turn their attention to Ligue 1 McDonald's as they look to continue their six-match unbeaten run on Sunday with a visit from LOSC Lille.
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