Diouf saves stoppage-time penalty after early error as Nice win 2-1 at Brest

Nice came from behind to win 2-1 at Brest on Friday night in the opening game of Ligue 1 matchday 8, their first away win of the season. Goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf went from culprit to match-winner: his error gave Brest striker Ludovic Ajorque the opener in the 15th minute, and his save from Kenny Lala's penalty in the last seconds of stoppage time kept the three points.

Brest's half

Diouf dawdled on the ball outside his area, and Ajorque stole it with his right foot before rolling it into the empty net with his left. According to RMC Sport, it was the fourth direct error leading to a goal that Nice have made in Ligue 1 this season, more than any other team. Diouf gave the ball away again in the 37th minute, but Brest's Kamory Doumbia slipped with the goal at his mercy. Julien Lachuer's side led 1-0 at the break and, per RMC Sport, had built up 1.52 expected goals to Nice's 0.14 by the 43rd minute.

Wahi and Diop turn it around

Nice coach Olivier Pantaloni's side were sharper after half-time. Elye Wahi equalised in the 61st minute, getting in front of Lala to turn in Mohamed Amoura's corner for his third goal of the season. Sofiane Diop, on for Gauthier Hein in the 63rd minute, headed just wide soon after, then won it in the 83rd: he intercepted a risky pass from Brest defender Bradley Locko, played a one-two with Wahi and beat goalkeeper Egil Selvik.

The penalty

Six minutes were added, and more followed. After a VAR check, referee Guillaume Paradis reviewed the footage and gave Brest a penalty for Nice substitute Isak Jansson's hold on Ibrahim Yayiya Kanté. Lala, who according to Foot Mercato had scored his previous 11 penalties, saw Diouf dive to his right and push it away.

Pantaloni admitted he had considered taking Diouf off after the first goal. "Just after the error, I asked myself the question, I talked about it with my staff, I talked about it with the goalkeeping coach, who felt we should leave him on the pitch," he said, quoted by AFP. "The fact that his teammates went straight to him to support him, I think that gave him the strength to carry on and the strength to save that penalty at the end of the match."

Lachuer, a former goalkeeper himself, was gracious in defeat. "That's the beauty of sport," the Brest coach said. "On a penalty, the goalkeeper has nothing to fear, he pulls off the feat and denies us this draw. Well done to him, but we're disappointed."

What it changes

Nice, who had lost all three of their previous away games, move up to 11 points and eighth place, three behind the five clubs level at the top, who all have a game in hand. Brest stay on 9 points in 11th. Brest finished with seven shots on target to Nice's two.