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Relegation-threatened Metz lifted themselves up to 18th place in the standings thanks to a priceless 1-0 victory at home to Nice.
Both sides were desperate to take home all three points as the snow fell down on the Stade Saint-Symphorien, but poor finishing thwarted either team in the opening period. Stéphane Borbiconi fired wide after half an hour for the home side and Bill Tchato did the same for Nice, yet the first true chance came when Metz won an indirect free-kick in the area after Damien Grégorini picked up a back-pass.
With all of Nice's players on the goal line, Ludovic Obraniak laid the ball off to Jung hwan Ahn, only for the South Korean forward to rifle his effort into the block of red and black shirts. Sébastien Roudet then had his goalbound shot deflected wide at the other end, but neither side really deserved the lead at the break.
Hervé Tum's 56th-minute effort signalled renewed determination from the hosts, though, and they took the lead when Stéphane Borbiconi smashed the ball past Grégorini following Abdelnasser Ouadah's corner. Obraniak then cracked a shot inches wide as Nice began to show signs of tiring. Indeed, they had nothing more to offer and enter the winter break in 14th place.
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Metz: Wimbée, Medjani, Beria, Borbiconi, Bassong; Proment (cap), Djiba, (Zewlakow 63), Ouadah, (Meniri 93), Obraniak; Ahn, Tum (Gueye 89)
Nice: Grégorini; Fanni, Abardonado, Traoré (cap), Tchato; (Varrault 63), Echouafni, Balmont, Bigné, (Dolci, 58eme), Roudet; Bagayoko, (Vahirua 63), Koné
Ref: Bré
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