A clinical AS Monaco get back to business against Ajaccio
Mission accomplished in Corsica. After a sluggish period of a few matches, the AS Monaco players managed to keep their composure and overcame the hosts after a close encounter (0-2). They thus recorded their ninth win on the road this season in Ligue 1 and obtained three precious points in the race for Europe.
The context 📅
On a run of four consecutive games without a win (in all competitions combined), AS Monaco had been experiencing a slump. With this trip to Ajaccio, the Rouge et Blanc therefore wanted to find a way to win against a team who are have been in a challenging period as well (4 defeats in their last 5 games). This was also a side they’d comfortably beaten in the reverse fixture (7-1).
The eleven 👥
For this 28th match of the Ligue 1 season, Philippe Clement changed the system to a 4-4-2, but also the players that he had used against Reims. Guillermo Maripan and Vanderson were back in the eleven. Au milieu de terrain, Mohamed Camara also was back in midfield alongside Youssouf Fofana. In attack, Wissam Ben Yedder and Breel Embolo formed a strike partnership.
Our #ACAASM line-up 📋 pic.twitter.com/ze86AC7Y0n
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) March 19, 2023
The scenario 🎞
The match started at a fairly slow tempo, with no real dangerous chances for either side. AS Monaco settled in the Corsican half of the pitch and kept the ball for the first 25 minutes. Ajaccio were too aggressive at the start of the match with four fouls and soon had two yellow cards. It was a commitment for which the Corsicans ended up paying.
The fox in the box makes an appearance
On the last of these, Caio Henrique would take the free kick and sent in a great ball for Guillermo Maripán. The Chilean leapt to head the ball but was denied by, but Wissam Ben Yedder, ever on the lookout, tapped the ball in to open the scoring (0-1, 28′)! Our captain scored his 17th goal of the season and thus med into third place among the league’s top scorers.
27' YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO IT IS!!! 😍
0⃣-1⃣ #ACAASM pic.twitter.com/B0fPaMRRyL
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) March 19, 2023
The hosts’ aggressiveness is punished
Despite a few attacks later in the half (37′, 41′), Philippe Clement’s men returned to the locker room with this lead. After the break, AS Monaco proved dangerous on several occasions, first on a combination between Ben Seghir and Ben Yedder (47′), then on a cross from Aguilar (48′).
Ajaccio continued to be quite aggressive in the tackles and Cyrille Bayala mistimed a tackle on the right flank. He therefore saw himself logically sent off (54th). It was a penalty which did not intimidate the Corsicans, who continue get stuck in (56′, 62′) further reducing the amount of action across the 90 minutes.
A winning appearance for Diatta!
The Belgian coach tried to restart the match and made a change by bringing on Krépin Diatta in place of Eliesse Ben Seghir (70′). It was a winning move since the Senegalese did not take long to shine with a good high press and a dangerous cutback (74′).
After an attempt from range by Barreto (75′) and a heroic tackle by Axel Disasi from the feet of Spanaduna (80′), Mohamed Camara found Diatta perfectly with a ball in behind the defense, who took his chance beautifully to double the lead (0-2, 84′).
84' DIATAAAAA!!! 🙌
0⃣-2⃣ #ACAASM pic.twitter.com/0kfzx631z2
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) March 19, 2023
An (international) break
AS Monaco took advantage of the space at the end of the match to try to increase the score, without success despite two attempts (84′, 92′). Come full time, the Principality club had won and moved in fourth with 54 points, two behind Marseille. See you again on April 2, after the international break, for a visit from Strasbourg.
The highlights 🎥
28′ Ben Yedder opens the scoring after a ball is parried by Leroy. (0-1)
54′ Red card for Bayala
84′ Diatta’s chipped shot beats the Corsican goalkeeper. (0-2)
The stat 📊
Thanks to a superb ball past the opposing goalkeeper, Krépin Diatta scored his third goal in Ligue 1 this season. This is AS Monaco’s 11th goal thanks to one of their substitutes in the top flight this season, more than any other team. Over the last three seasons, the Rouge et Blanc have scored at least 13 more goals than any other team in the top flight thanks to players coming off the bench (40, ahead of Reims with 27).
Krépin cool with it 🇸🇳❄️#ACAASM pic.twitter.com/iB35AY2n0z
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) March 19, 2023
* Download the AS Monaco App (Google Play and Apple Store)
Match details
Sunday, March 19 – Stade François-Coty
Ligue 1 – Matchday 28: AC Ajaccio 0-2 AS Monaco
Halftime: 0-1
Goals: Ben Yedder (27′) and Diatta (84′) for AS Monaco
Bookings: Belaïli (3′), Diallo (14′) for AC Ajaccio; Maripán (49′) for AS Monaco
Dismissals: Bayala (54′) for AC Ajaccio
AC Ajaccio: Leroy – Diallo (Alphonse, 17′), Vidal, Youssouf (Spadanuda, 72′), Gonzalez – Barreto, Coutadeur © El Idrissy (Nouri, 72′) – Belaïli (Mayembo, 61′), Bayala, Soumano (Djitté, 72′)
Substitutes: Sollacaro, Alphonse, Avinel, Mayembo, Spadanuda, Chabrolle, Nouri, Camara, Djitté
Manager: Olivier Pantaloni
AS Monaco: Nübel – Aguilar, Disasi, Maripán, C. Henrique – Vanderson, Fofana, Camara, Ben Seghir (Diatta, 70′) – Ben Yedder © (Minamino, 77′), Embolo
Substitutes: Didillon, Sarr, Okou, Matazo, Akliouche, Diop, Boadu, Minamino, Diatta
Manager: Philippe Clement
