MIGUEL MEDINA
Monaco beat, for the match celebrating its centenary, a very eye-catching Montpellier (2-1) at the end of stoppage time and after attacking incessantly throughout the second period, Saturday evening, during the 6th day of Ligue 1.
It was on the very last action of the match, pushed by the radiant captain Denis Zakaria and ended by a masterful flat foot from Lamine Camara (2-1, 90th+8), that Monaco managed to get rid of a Montpellier where goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaux was very good and delayed the deadline for a long time.
Trailing from the 16th minute, Adi Hütter’s men never gave up collectively. This victory, snatched just before an important trip in the Champions League to Zagreb against Dinamo on Wednesday, allows the team from the Principality to share the lead in the standings with Paris SG, with 16 points out of 18 possible. Montpellier, for its part, remains at the back of the pack (16th and barrage), with four units in six days.
Even though Prince Albert II and club president Dmitry Rybolovlev kicked off the club’s centenary match, the Monegasques, in black for the occasion in commemoration of the original 1924 jersey, had the worst difficulties. to get into their match.
Moreover, if Akor Adams was blocked at the last moment from the kick-off (1st), Rabby Nzingoula did not fail to score his first goal in Ligue 1. After a poor recovery from Mohammed Salisu, Arnaud Nordin recovered, gave it to Adams, who with one touch shifted Nzingoula. The attacker, on loan from Strasbourg, punished the counter perfectly (0-1, 16th).
– Patience rewarded –
MIGUEL MEDINA
Transfixed in full domination, and after a double opportunity on which the Paillade goalkeeper, Dimitry Bertaud, made two exceptional saves in front of Breel Embolo then Denis Zakaria (14th), Monaco continued to push.
Obviously, Hütter’s team offered itself opportunities (19th, Balogun above), but also discovered itself (17th, Salisu saves on his line; 28th, save by Philipp Köhn). Until this school action between Embolo and Balogun. The Swiss served the American who equalized from the left at ground level (1-1, 32nd).
Unwilling to see his team too unbalanced despite his desire to offer attractive and attacking football, Hütter asked Aleksandr Golovin to support Zakaria a little more, radiant but alone in the middle. Monaco also showed patience in building their attacks.
After the break, Balogun, ideally served behind by Eliesse Ben Seghir, struck very hard, but on Bertaud’s right post (64th). From a corner, Salisu saw his header cleared by Wahbi Khazri at the post (75th). Then Bertaud was perfect again in front of Lamine Camara, in perfect position following a one-two with George Ilenikhena (86th).
The free kick from Teji Savanier, master of the exercise, which crashed into the right post of a beaten Köhn will ultimately remain only an anecdote (85th). Because, by pushing hard, Monaco managed, logically but by a long shot, to reverse the situation. The demonstration of a team sure of its strength…
