AS Monaco stun Nantes to earn a draw
Quickly trailing against a revengeful Nantes, our Rouge et Blanc chased the game for a long time before finally saving a point in a draw away to Nantes (3-3), at the end of a completely crazy match.
A crazy game! We hoped for no less between a Nantes team looking to change their fortunes, and an AS Monaco side who have been ultra-clinical since the start of the season. And at the end of a match played at 100 miles per hour from start to finish, after having been behind from the 5th minute, our Rouge et Blanc ended up snatching a good draw in Nantes (3-3).
The context
With two wins in two games since the resumption of Ligue 1, and good progress between an opening win in Clermont (2-4) and a victory at home at the Stade Louis-II against Strasbourg (3-0), our Rouge et Blanc were aiming for the three points. But they had to be wary of Nantes performing well in a generally hostile Beaujoire, after the two defeats suffered by Les Canaris at the start of this 2023-2024 season.
The eleven
Looking for 3 wins from 3, coach Adi Hütter did not change anything from the team he lined up against the Alsatians and thus played again in a 3-4-2-1 with Denis Zakaria and Wilfried Singo in defense. In great form with two goals and two assists to date, Takumi Minamino was again played alongside Aleksandr Golovin.
The match
In a very intense start to the match in its duels, echoing the atmosphere of La Beaujoire, Nantes obtained a penalty in the 4th minute, which Mostafa Mohamed converted (1-0, 5′). The answer was immediate and it came from Caio Henrique on a direct free kick which grazed the post (8′). The Brazilian also failed to get his effort on target a few minutes later (13′).
A fine pass from Caio, a fine finish from Taki’
A penalty then seemed obvious, when the Tsar was fouled in the opposing area, but the referee did not budge (14′). On the contrary, Les Canaris soon eanred a corner, on which Jean-Charles Castelletto rose highest to double the lead (2-0, 15′). The Monegasques tried to regain control of the game, but stumbled against the “yellow wall.” Until a flash of brilliance by Caio Henrique, who delivered the ball onto the head of Takumi Minamino (2-1, 27′).
A domination that changes sides
The Japanese is the team’s form player and in scoring his third goal it was similar to his second against Strasbourg. The Rouge et Blanc pushed to come back, but Wissam Ben Yedder stumbled against Rémy Descamps from close range (31′). Then Wilfried Singo tried his luck from afar, without success (39′). Soungoutou Magassa was finally close to taking advantage of a mistake in the Nantes defense (45′) but to no avail.
Captain’ Wiss to the rescue
Unfortunately the second half started like the first, very badly, on an early goal from Les Canaris who added to their tally thanks to Mohamed’s double (3-1, 48′). Very involvved, Taki’ tried again to charge up the Monegasque attack, but it was Kader Bamba who narrowly missed what would have been a knockout blow (58′). It was a narrow miss for Pierre Aristouy’s men, and one they could regret since Wissam Ben Yedder, first to a deflected strike by Fofana, scored from close range (3-2)!
A crazy end to the match!
The tension is palpable, and Youssouf Fofana even hits the bar with his head, but Myron Boadu, barely having entered the game, followed it up perfectly and pushed the ball into an empty goal (3-3, 85th). It was his tenth goal in La Diagonale… and his tenth on the road! The end of the match was like the rest of the match, completely crazy, exemplified by a strike from 25 meters from Denis Zakaria, which was again blocked (94′).
The score would remain there, and AS Monaco saved a point from the draw after being behind from the fifth minute of play. The next match (and first big test) comes against Lens next Saturday at the Stade Louis-II (9 p.m.).
Source: www.asmonaco.com
