Carlos Eduardo scores five goals as Nice destroy Guingamp 7-2

Carlos Eduardo struck five goals as his Nice side, chasing a European berth, obliterated a plucky Guingamp side 7-2 in an entertaining, topsy-turvy Ligue 1 clash at the Stade du Roudourou that left Jocelyn Gourvennec's charges bottom of the table.

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The hosts opened the scoring when, following a prolonged period of pressure, Claudio Beauvue headed down low into the visitors' bottom right corner as early as the eighth minute.

It didn't take long for Nice to pull themselves back into the game, however, with Eduardo blasting a fierce free kick into the top left corner past Jonas Lossl just four minutes later.

Guingamp's floodgates well and truly opened up thereafter, as the on-loan Porto midfielder fired his side into the lead just before the half-hour mark with another top-corner effort.

Shortly before the break, Eric Bautheac's cross fell to Eduardo, who secured his hat-trick with a clinical shot into the middle of the Guingamp net.

The Brazilian then turned provider when he set up Alassane Plea in first-half injury time, and he stroked home to leave the hosts with a mountain to climb in the second period.

There was to be no mercy from Nice after the restart, as Eduardo scored his fourth in the 50th minute and his fifth a short while later following a strong counter-attack.

Guingamp must be credited for not giving up, going on to score their second through Ronnie Schwartz midway through the first half, but Nice restored their five-goal lead two minutes later when Bautheac poked home.

There were to be no further goals as the shellshocked hosts and their fans were left to rue what they had just witnessed come the final whistle.