Saint-Symphorien Erupts: Metz Stuns Nice in VAR Nightmare

Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 70/100. A local grudge match transformed into final-day theatre, where referee decisions proved as decisive as goals, and Metz proved that even relegation-form teams can inflict humiliation on European hopefuls.

Chaos at the Cathedral

From the opening whistle, intensity obliterated tactical discipline. Nice struck first: M. Cho, set up by C. Vanhoutte, opened the scoring in the 35th minute, seemingly placing the Aiglons on the path to victory. But at Saint-Symphorien, nothing stays settled. Three lead changes across 90 minutes transformed this contest into an emotional rollercoaster—each side believing they'd secured victory only to watch it crumble.

VAR Steals the Spotlight

At 51 minutes, the turning point arrived: VAR confirmed a penalty for Metz after review. Two minutes later, Gauthier Hein converted from the spot, restoring balance at 1-1. But the real heartbreak awaited Nice at 89 minutes when VAR overturned a penalty decision—a reversal that sealed the Aiglons' fate. In between, at 84 minutes, Habib Diallo, assisted by J. Gbamin, had already delivered Metz's winning goal. Two VAR interventions, two opposite verdicts: one confirming, one erasing. The stakes became entirely about the officials.

The Underdogs Strike Back

Metz, 14th with 11 points, faced Nice, 9th with 17 points. On paper, a relegation-form side against a European challenger. But the upset was always inevitable: with a 14% probability gap favouring Nice, the Lorraine side delivered an absolute surprise. Jonathan Clauss attempted damage control for Nice with three key passes, but couldn't overcome Diallo's ruthlessness (1 goal, 1 key pass) and Hein's clinical finishing (1 goal). Saint-Symphorien roared like never before: three lead changes, a remarkable comeback, and VAR decisions that will haunt Nice for seasons to come.