The Nice players paid tribute to the victims of the attack which left the city in mourning on October 29, 2020. -
Daniel Cole / AP / SIPA
They won.
For them, of course, but also and above all for their city.
The players of OGC Nice managed to overcome their penalty in the space of 90 minutes to defeat the Israeli team of Hapoel Beer-Sheva (1-0), Thursday evening, on the second day of the Europa League.
Earlier in the day, the city was hit by a knife attack that killed three people.
The game was held, so they played for them.
“It's complicated to talk about football after the attack.
We think of the families of the victims, of all those Niçois who are in suffering, in mourning.
It seems ridiculous, of course, but it's our job, and we also wanted to represent the club's colors, said coach Patrick Vieira after the meeting.
This drama affects us all.
The country is in mourning.
But we must remain standing.
"
Despite the circumstances and an empty stadium, the Niçois delivered a good match.
Youcef Atal was particularly good, Walter Benitez also in goals when it rocked in the second half, but the man of the evening was once again Amine Gouiri.
Author of the only goal of the match, the former Lyonnais is no longer a revelation.
He gradually established himself as the leader of the Aiglons attack.
His goal in the heart of the first period allows the Nice to rebound, a week after the slap received in Leverkusen (6-2).
“It was a special, sad context.
We are all very touched in the group, we talked about it a lot between us, explained Captain Dante.
We had planned not to celebrate the goal too much.
Football comes a little later, even if it is our profession.
It's good to end this day with a victory.
"
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