Nice book Coupe de France final spot with win over Strasbourg

Nice's French forward #11 Elye Wahi (C) celebrates with teammates

Relegation-threatened OGC Nice put aside their wretched Ligue 1 form (W1, D5, L5) to overcome RC Strasbourg 2-0 and reached the final of the Coupe de France (CDF).

With both sides looking to reach the showpiece and potentially add to their respective three CDF titles, an electric atmosphere inside the Stade de la Meinau was rewarded with a pulsating, but ultimately goalless, first half.

Both sides had huge opportunities to strike the opening blow, but a lack of composure in the box proved costly.

Nice had the first major chance of the game when Elye Wahi drove towards goal but, while the angle opened up for him, his toe-poked effort smacked the outside of the post, perhaps helped on its way by Mike Penders’ fingertips.

Martial Godo was the most potent threat at the other end as the hosts looked for the breakthrough, but he wasn’t at his clinical best.

Although he was perhaps unlucky to see a curled effort drift just over the bar from the edge of the area, he should’ve done better minutes later.

Match stats

Julio Enciso had the initial goal-bound shot that was blocked before it fell at the feet of Godo in the six-yard box, but with the home crowd ready to erupt, he somehow blazed his effort over.

It appeared that missed chances would continue to be the story of the game after the break when Enciso dragged a shot wide after bursting through on goal, but he and Strasbourg were immediately punished at the other end.

Jonathan Clauss created the opening with a perfectly timed pass to release Wahi on goal, and he kept his cool to lash a finish past Penders into the bottom corner.

Trailing, but with the home crowd still fully behind them, the onslaught from the hosts came, yet a mixture of poor finishing and outstanding goalkeeping prevented the leveller.

Enciso again went close with a bullet header from close range that appeared destined for the net, but0 Maxime Dup9 made a stunning reflex save to thwart him.

Once again, a critical Strasbourg miss was quickly punished, as a VAR review ruled that0IsmaBl Doukour9 had felled Mohamed-Ali Cho in the area, leaving Wahi to smack the resultant penalty home with less than 10 minutes to go.

The home side tried in vain to set up a grandstand finish but couldn’t find a way through, meaning Nice will take on RC Lens in the final as they look to end a 29-year wait to win this trophy.

Strasbourg, meanwhile, will be disappointed with this display, but at least have a UEFA Conference League semi-final against0Rayo Vallecano to look forward to as they continue their quest for silverware.

Check out all the match stats here