NICE, France (AP) - A late penalty from Olivier Giroud secured Nice's first win of the season as they beat Lyon 1-0 on Saturday.
The result was only marginally better for Nice, who had lost their opening two games and were bottom of the Ligue 1 table. The 28-year-old forward, who has been out injured since September, scored his first goal for the club since returning to action against Paris Saint-Germain in mid-June.
It looked like it would be a tight game when Lyon dominated possession and created several chances in the opening half hour. But Nice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a series of saves to keep them at bay and then conceded a penalty in the 64th minute when Benjamin Bourigeaud brought down Olivier Giroud inside the box.
Giroud stepped up and converted his spot-kick with ease, sending Lloris the wrong way. It was a fitting end to a tough week for Lyon, who have now lost three consecutive league matches and are just four points above the relegation zone.
Lloris was named man of the match after making 78 saves, while Giroud was also highly rated by his teammates. "He is back," said striker Jean Michael Seri. "We needed this."
It was Nice's first victory of the season and they will hope it can help them climb the table. Lyon, meanwhile, will need to bounce back quickly if they want to avoid dropping into the relegation places.
Both teams face difficult fixtures ahead, with Lyon hosting Marseille next weekend and Nice playing host to Paris Saint-Germain in their next fixture.