French Ligue 1 report: Nice edge five-goal thriller

Nice secured a 3-2 comeback home victory against Toulouse in a thoroughly entertaining Ligue 1 encounter at the Allianz Riviera.

Nice supporters were celebrating in the 23rd minute when Dario Cvitanich scored but their joy was short-lived when Martin Braithwaite and Wissam Ben Yedder scored within a minute of each other just before half-time to give Toulouse the lead at the break.

Nice came back fighting in the second half, however, and were level when Cvitanich scored his second of the game in the 62nd minute before Alexy Bosetti notched the winner seven minutes later to ensure the home fans were celebrating at the final whistle.

Claude Puel's side started brightly as Cvitanich forced an early save from visiting goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher in the second minute.

Toulouse manager Alain Casanova must have feared the worse when Cvitanich went down in the penalty area under a heavy challenge in the 17th minute but, much to home fans' disgust, referee Frank Schneider waved play on.

Nice got their reward six minutes later thanks to a moment of brilliance from Cvitanich, who ran the Toulouse defence ragged all evening before being substituted with five minutes remaining.

The 30-year-old Argentinian striker received the ball 30 yards from goal and, after taking a touch, unleashed an unstoppable shot past Boucher to break the deadlock.

The Eaglets should have been 2-0 up moments later when Boucher saved Romain Genevois' point-blank effort and they were left to rue their wastefulness when Toulouse scored twice in the final two minutes of the half.

Braithwaite rose highest to head Issiaga Sylla's tantalising cross beyond home goalkeeper Mouez Hassen for a 44th-minuite equaliser, before Ben Yedder turned in a pinpoint cross from William Matheus, who was making first competitive appearance for Toulouse.

The visitors almost grabbed a third 11 minutes after the interval when Matheus' cross rattled the crossbar with Sylla inches away from getting on the end of the delivery.

They paid the price as Nice equalised in the 62nd minute when Cvitanich poked home a Genevois knock-down at the far post for his second goal of the game.

Nice then completed an impressive comeback victory seven minutes later when Bosetti was quickest to Gregoire Puel's cross and headed home from 12 yards out.

Try as they might, Toulouse could not find a third goal to earn a share of the points and will aim to get off the mark when they host Lyon next Saturday.

Nice will hope to make it two league wins out of two when they travel to Lorient.