Nice book spot in Coupe de France final after impressive victory against Strasbourg

[p]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.[/p][p]Both sides had huge opportunities to strike the opening blow, but a lack of composure in the box proved costly. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nice/YagoQJpq/"]Nice[/a] had the first major chance of the game when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wahi-sepe-elye/8jdHWf50/"]Elye Wahi[/a] 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 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/penders-mike/nyaJupUE/"]Mike Penders[/a]’ fingertips.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/godo-martial/GllB6ag5/"]Martial Godo[/a] was the most potent threat at the other end as the hosts looked for the breakthrough, but he wasn’t at his clinical best.[/p][p]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.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="e1c62757-682e-4f5e-8722-ebffecb65a1b" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="11bd1e1c-7dad-4bc6-834e-7ed66100944f" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/enciso-julio/f19S9MEi/"]Julio Enciso[/a] 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.[/p][p]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 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/strasbourg/nP6UzIU1/"]Strasbourg[/a] were immediately punished at the other end.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clauss-jonathan/Ag37eHIn/"]Jonathan Clauss[/a] 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. [/b][/p][p]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.[/p][p]Enciso again went close with a bullet header from close range that appeared destined for the net, but  [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dupe-maxime/lz4moDgp/"]Maxime Dupé[/a] made a stunning reflex save to thwart him.[/p][p][b]Once again, a critical Strasbourg miss was quickly punished, as a VAR review ruled that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doukoure-ismael/nHtBqog0/"]Ismaël Doukouré[/a] had felled [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cho-mohamed-ali/xOd4FVMQ/"]Mohamed-Ali Cho[/a] in the area, leaving Wahi to smack the resultant penalty home with less than 10 minutes to go.[/b][/p][embed guid="693dfa8b-9d04-448d-8072-c5d7eff32d9e" url="https://x.com/ogcnice_eng/status/2047057063323328657" social-type="twitter" /][p]The home side tried in vain to set up a grandstand finish but couldn’t find a way through, meaning Nice will take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lens/IBmris38/"]RC Lens[/a] in the final as they look to end a 29-year wait to win this trophy.[/p][p]Strasbourg, meanwhile, will be disappointed with this display, but at least have a UEFA Conference League semi-final against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rayo-vallecano/8bcjFy6O/"]Rayo Vallecano[/a] to look forward to as they continue their quest for silverware.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wahi-sepe-elye/8jdHWf50/"]Elye Wahi[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nice/YagoQJpq/"]OGC Nice[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/nice-YagoQJpq/strasbourg-nP6UzIU1/?mid=jkORIym4"]Check out all the match stats here[/a][/b][/p]