Nice thus finds in the last four its neighbor Monaco, the Petit Poucet of National 2, Versailles, winner a little earlier of Bergerac on penalties (1-1, 5 to 4 on pens), and the winner of Nantes-Bastia , which takes place this Thursday evening.
The semi-finals will take place at the beginning of March.
After the serious overflows of August 22, with the interruption of the meeting after an invasion of the field and blows given by certain Nice supporters, the return of Marseille to Nice promised to be electric.
He was.
But only in the game. The popular fervor was powerful, always, virile, sometimes, but correct, as a whole.
In the end, this match sounds a bit like the beginning of a reconciliation between the game and the supporters.
Marseille playmaker Dimitri Payet (c) against Nice in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, February 9, 2022 in Nice Valery HACHE AFP
In front of coach Didier Deschamps and his assistant Guy Stephan, Nice had a great game.
Christophe Galtier tactically beat Jorge Sampaoli.
And above all, the attacking trio of Aiglons Gouiri-Delort-Kluivert was impressive.
-Sampaoli changes everything-
Marseille quickly scored.
Launched by Gerson, Arkadiuz Milik, at the very limit of offside, is taken over by Jean-Clair Todibo.
But the counter of the Nice defender landed in the feet of Cengiz Under.
Unfortunately for Nice, the strike from the Turkish international, repelled by Marcin Bulka, bounced off Melvin Bard (0-1, 3rd).
After activating the video assistance, Mr. Buquet validated the goal.
Despite this twist of fate, the Nice left side remained in his game.
Combative, he was the real left winger of Aiglons who started with three defensive midfielders.
And a solid fulcrum for Amine Gouiri, poison of the Olympian rearguard.
Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli in the quarter-final of the Coupe de France in Nice, February 9, 2022 Valery HACHE AFP
With William Saliba on the right, and the Argentinian Leonardo Balerdi at his side in the centre, OM have often been pierced on this side.
And after passing Saliba quickly on a pass from Andy Delort, Gouiri made a mischievous little bridge over Belardi, before equalizing and making a stadium roar that was just waiting for it (1-1, 11th).
Once again, the video assistance allowed the validation of the goal.
Neither the men of Galtier, nor the Nice public had time to gamble.
Put back on the right track, Nice then continued to attack.
If Khéphren Thuram (13th) and Justin Kluivert (21st) did not frame their attempt with their feet, the Dutch international was much more skilful with his pricked head.
He completed a perfect collective action with Gouri and Delort (2-1, 29th).
Jorge Sampaoli waited until half-time to try to change the face of his team on the brink.
Belardi logically gave way to Cédric Bakambu (46th).
-Kluivert Missile-
His goal, two minutes later, could have changed everything (48th).
But he was logically refused for offside.
Marseille, arranged in 3-3-4, has as at the start of the season, suffered from its imbalance.
But unlike his start to the season, the balance was negative because of an untenable Kluivert and a diabolical ability to counter Nice.
A minute after the goal disallowed at Bakambu, Kluivert with a cross laser strike from afar beat Pau Lopez, who was at fault despite everything (3-1, 49th).
Nice striker Andy Delort against Marseille in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, February 9, 2022 in Nice Valery HACHE AFP
The last Marseilles illusions were, therefore, ruined.
No chance that Nice, unrecognizable last Sunday against Clermont (0-1), will drop qualification.
And on a new counter led by Flavius Daniliuc, Kluivert served a nugget to Delort.
The Algerian international took advantage of Saliba's inability to clear to complete his fine statistics (4-1, 62nd with a goal and two assists).
Well helped by his attacking trio, Galtier therefore won the tactical battle against Sampaoli.
And after leaving Paris-SG then Marseille, Nice, from which six major players were absent, still dreams of a first final since their victory in 1997.
© 2022 AFP