Terem Moffi nets 17th French Ligue 1 goal as Nice halt Rennes’ European dream

By Wale Mustapha

Terem Moffi inspired OGC Nice to a wonderful 2-1 Ligue 1 over Rennes in a French topflight encounter on Saturday.

Rennes looked set to secure one of the spots for the European football from French League next season when they arrived at the Allianz Riviera with much positives banking on their current run of form.

However, the hosts Nice gave Rennes much hostilities that saw both sides settled for goalless draw at half time.

The game became more livelier after the restart as Nice goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel was called into action, using outstretched leg to keep out Lovro Majer’s headed in the box.

Nice became increasingly intense in attack and deservedly took the lead in the 50th minute when former Rennes man Gaëtan Laborde met with Hicham Boudaoui’s pinpoint cross to guide home a side-footed effort.

With 19 minutes left to go, Rennes handed themselves a mountain to climb when defender Arthur Theate made a sloppy back pass to Steve Mandanda and allowed Moffi raced past the goalkeeper before slotting home his 17th Ligue 1 goal of the campaign.

Rennes halved the deficit in the 88th minutes when Benjamin Bourigeaud stole the ball from Nice back line and took a curling effort that Schmeichel had no answer for.

It was however, too little too late for Rennes to complete the comeback and now sit three points adrift of the European places, having played a game extra in Ligue 1.

Nice will be satisfied with their position as they will be ending the season without worries of relegation.