OGC Nice finally opened their UEFA Europa League account with a 3-1 home victory over wasteful Go Ahead Eagles, securing their first points of the European campaign at the Allianz Riviera.

The Dutch Cup holders arrived in the south of France knowing that a win against a still-winless Nice side would significantly boost their hopes of finishing inside the top 24, and they started brightly. Victor Edvardsen twice went close early on, including a threatening effort from a corner that briefly raised belief among the travelling support.

However, that early promise unravelled through a costly goalkeeping error. Go Ahead Eagles goalkeeper Jari De Busser inexplicably fired the ball at a team-mate from close range, allowing Charles Vanhoutte to capitalise and roll the ball into an empty net to hand Nice an unexpected lead.

The visitors responded well, carving out a series of chances, with Edvardsen again coming close only to see his effort cleared off the line. Yet another moment of defensive sloppiness proved fatal just before half-time. Failed clearance attempts fell kindly for Tiago Gouveia on the edge of the box, and the Portuguese winger made no mistake, drilling a shot in at De Busser’s near post to double Nice’s advantage.

Despite a sparsely populated Allianz Riviera, the hosts began the second half with renewed intent. Gouveia tested De Busser early on, while striker Kevin Carlos rattled the crossbar as Nice threatened to put the contest beyond doubt.

That decisive moment arrived just before the hour mark, when Gouveia headed home a pinpoint cross from Mo-Ali Cho to make it 3-0 and effectively seal the points.

Go Ahead Eagles did manage to pull one back in the 68th minute, as Finn Stokkers redeemed an earlier miss by producing a composed finish past Maxime Dupe. The visitors pushed for a second, with Edvardsen again testing Dupe from a set-piece, but the French goalkeeper stood firm.

Late chances came at both ends, with Jonathan Clauss volleying over for Nice before Eagles defender Melle Meulensteen narrowly failed to connect at the other end.

After seven matches, Nice finally have points on the board in the Europa League and will look to add to their tally when they visit Ludogorets next week. For Go Ahead Eagles, a wasteful night leaves their maiden European campaign hanging by a thread, with only a home win against Braga offering hope of progression.