With Go Ahead Eagles, the reigning Dutch Cup winners, still in the fight for survival in the UEFA Europa League, a win away at winless OGC Nice would give the Eagles a good shot at finishing in the top 24.
A good start to the game got their hopes up, with especially Victor Edvardsen coming close to scoring from a corner.
However, a grave mistake from goalkeeper Jari De Busser, who fired the ball at a team-mate from close range, earned Nice an unexpected lead, with Charles Vanhoutte profiting from the Belgian's mistake and putting the ball in an empty net.
A series of chances for the Eagles followed, with Edvardsen coming close again, but the Swede got his attempt cleared off the line.
Another moment of sloppiness cost Go Ahead Eagles dearly before the break - inexplicable attempts at clearing the ball ended up giving Tiago Gouveia the ball on the edge of the box before the Portuguese fired the ball in at De Busser's near post.
The hosts, whose Allianz Riviera stadium was barely filled, shot out of the gates in the second half, with Gouveia testing De Busser and striker Kevin Carlos hitting the crossbar.
Tiago Gouveia eventually put the game beyond doubt for Nice after heading home a lovely cross from Mo-Ali Cho just before the hour mark.
Shortly after striker Finn Stokkers impatiently fired the ball over Maxime Dupe's bar with a great chance, the Dutchman made up for his mistake with a simple yet delightful finish in the 68th minute.
The Eagles pushed for a second, and it was again Edvardsen who seriously tested Dupe from a set-piece, but the Swede half-volleyed the ball right at the French stopper.
Jonathan Clauss got one last chance at restoring Nice's three-goal lead again, but the French international volleyed the ball over De Busser's crossbar. Eagles defender Melle Meulensteen could've cut into Nice's lead a few seconds later instead, but missed the ball by a toe's length.
Eagles need a miracle
After seven games, OGC Nice finally grabbed their first points in the UEFA Europa League, beating Go Ahead Eagles 3-1 in the south of France. The team from the French Riviera will look to win their last points next week during their visit to Bulgarian giants Ludogorets.
Go Ahead Eagles, meanwhile, effectively saw their maiden European season end after a wasteful evening, with the top-24 places at least two points away. Only a home win against Braga could see the Eagles reach the next round in Europe.
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