UEL Recap: OGC Nice Fall Away to IF Elfsborg
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OGC Nice's tough run in the UEFA Europa League continued on Thursday night as they were beaten 1-0 by IF Elfsborg at Borås Arena on Matchday 7.
The first half was a closely fought battle, with Nice registering eight shots and IF Elfsborg seven, but neither team could break the deadlock, and the match went into halftime 0-0.
Nice’s hopes were dashed in the second half when Gustav Henriksson found the back of the net for the home side in the 62nd minute.
Henriksson rose to meet a perfectly placed cross from Besfort Zeneli, who had delivered it following a corner, and sent a header into the bottom right corner from the left side of the six-yard box.
In the second half, Nice recorded 14 total shots but couldn't find the back of the net and the French side fell 1-0. Another reason for the Ligue 1 McDonald's club being held scoreless was due to Isak Pettersson, who made five saves for the clean sheet.
After the loss, Tom Louchet spoke to Canal+ and noted his disappointment with the result, considering it marks the end of their run in the Europa League.
"It's disappointing. It's a great competition, but we can't play it every day. To have the chance to play in it and get such poor results it's not acceptable for us."
Les Aiglons needed to win to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive, but the defeat in Sweden eliminates them from the competition heading into the final matchday, where they'll face FK Bodø/Glimt.
Nice must shift their focus to Ligue 1 McDonald's and the Coupe de France. Le Gym are currently fifth in the league table and will face Olympique de Marseille this weekend in a clash between two top-five teams.
In the Coupe de France, Franck Haise and his team will face Stade Briochin in the Coupe de France Round of 16 on February 5.
The Stat: Nice have struggled in the Europa League
After their loss to IF Elfsborg, Nice have become the first French club to lose 10 straight away games in the Europa League.
Photo credit: @ogcnice_eng
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