A young and serious AS Monaco move on against Quevilly-Rouen
AS Monaco didn’t slip up in what looked a tricky Coupe de France Round of 32 tie. Despite a very young squad, the club turned in a good performance, sealing qualification for the next round in the Coupe de France against Ligue 2 side Quevilly-Rouen (1-3).
Nine Academy players on the squad list
On the occasion of this first match of 2022 for the Rouge et Blanc, nine players trained at the Academy, including eight members of the reserves, would travel to Normandy. To start the match, with the team led by Stéphane Nado, the coach of the Monegasque reserves, Yllan Okou (19) would start in central defense in his first professional match, with Félix Lemarechal (18) in midfield, both part of a starting lineup that averaged less than 23 years of age (22.9).
Yedderland rings in 2022
The first chance of the match would come in the Monegaques’ area, with a chance for the Norman side’s forward Duckens Nazon, against whom Radoslaw Majecki imposed himself with authority (3′). An answer would soon come from Myron Boadu, who burst into the opponents’ box, but unfortunately without being able to get a shot on goal (13′). Then came a low strike from Wissam Ben Yedder, which was saved by Nicolas Lemaître (24′). But the match would change shortly after the half hour mark, from the penalty spot, to the delight of the Monegasque away supporters, who had dutifully filled their section.
Merci pour votre soutien ♥️ pic.twitter.com/Dv6V8LGzmv
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 2, 2022
As against the Red Star in the previous round, Wissam Ben Yedder converted a penalty won by Myron Boadu (33′, 0-1). But the Rouge et Blanc captain’s teammates didn’t stop there. On a superb pass from the captain, it was the other member of Yedderland, Kevin Volland, who doubled the lead with a superb toe poke of a finish (0-2, 37′). Game on! Unfortunately, though Quevilly-Rouen would reduce the deficit shortly thereafter, on a very powerful shot from Kalidou Sidibé into the top corner (43′).
Kevin Volland sees double
Half-time therefore arrived with a one-goal lead for this young Monegasque team. On returning from the locker room, it was the same scenario. The men of Bruno Irles, a former player for the Principality club, offered themselves an opportunity on a free kick from Duckens Nazon, whose sho would flash wide (50′). But as in the first period, it was the Rouge et Blanc who would find the net. On a superb high recovery from Eliot Matazo, the inevitable Kevin Volland would score his second from the edge of the area, cutting in from the left (1-3, 58′).
🔥 Kevin 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟land 🔥
1-3 | #QRMASM https://t.co/5FFDkBhH0p pic.twitter.com/QAUhKgwCVL
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) January 2, 2022
It was a goal that would all but seal the result for the visitors, who would look to add to their haul through Myron Boadu from close range (66′), and on a clever lob by Gelson Martins (67′). Despite failing to score a fourth goal, Stéphane Nado took the opportunity to make a few changes, bringing on Maghnes Akliouche, who had already appeared in Ligue 1 this season against Lyon, and Wilson Isidor. The first of these even had a shooting chance quite quickly (80′). Then it was then turn of Gelson Martins (81′) and Ben Yedder (89′) to try their luck.
90 ' 🔁 Wissam Ben Yedder gives way to one of our young people: 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮!
Allez Soungoutou 👏
1-3 | #QRMASM
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) January 2, 2022
Debuts for Okou and Magassa
The Monegasque captain would eventually gives way to the young Soungoutou Magassa, on for his professional debut, who would join his reserve teammate Yllan Okou in making his first appearance with the first team. The match ended 3-1 in favor of the Rouge et Blanc, with four Academy-trained players on the pitch. That also meant that in total, five “young guns” had participated in this qualification on the part of AS Monaco for the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France.
Well done to them, and see you again Sunday for the return of Ligue 1 as the team head to Nantes (kick-off 5 p.m.).
Match details
Coupe de France – Round of 32
Quevilly-Rouen 1-3 AS Monaco
Halftime: 1-2
Goals: Sidibé (43′) for Quevilly-Rouen; Ben Yedder (33′) and Volland (37′, 58′) for AS Monaco
Bookings: Matazo (25′) and C.Henrique (70′) for AS Monaco
Dismissals: Sidibé (91′) pour Quevilly-Rouen
Quevilly-Rouen: Lemaître – Lambese, Padovani ©, N.Cissé, Dekoke – Boé-Kane (Ndilu, 67′ — Zabou, 84′), Diaby (Haddad, 67′ — Bahassa, 84′), Sidibé – Gbelle, Nazon, Jozefzoon
Substitutes: Lejeune, Belkorchia, Bansais, S.Cissé, Haddad, Rotsen, Bahassa, Ndilu, Zabou
Manager: Bruno Irles
AS Monaco: Majecki – Aguilar, Okou, Pavlović, Jakobs – Volland (Akliouche, 75′), Matazo, Lemarechal (Gelson Martins, 51′), C.Henrique – Ben Yedder © (Magassa, 90′), Boadu (Isidor, 75′)
Substitutes: Nübel, El Maach, Platret, Torres, Akliouche, Baranik, Gelson Martins, Magassa, Isidor
Manager: Stéphane Nado
