Ligue 1 Uber Eats 17 September 2023, 17:21

Dominant but not rewarded, AS Monaco concede a draw in Lorient

At the end of a more than frustrating match in which they were largely dominant, our Rouge et Blanc were pegged back in the last seconds of the match, thus taking a point from Moustoir.

What a frustrating outcome! First behind and then in front after the hour thanks to Folarin Balogun’s first goal, the AS Monaco players conceded a draw at the very end of added time. They will nonetheless remain leaders in the standings after this fifth day of league play.✍️

The context 📅

With an excellent start to the season, AS Monaco are league leaders. In the event of another win, they would be able to continue their good form and thus consolidate first place before the receptions in Nice and Marseille. But they had to be wary as Lorient were coming off a convincing home victory against LOSC (4-1) and the match after a break can be complicated, as the Monegasque coach said on Friday.

We haven't had many sessions together to work on this match in Brittany, but we hope to maintain our momentum from the start of the season (3 wins, 1 draw, Ligue 1 leaders). The match after the international break is always difficult to negotiate. We will therefore have to show our best face on the pitch against Lorient, because they are a good team.

Adi Hütter, in Friday's press conferenceAS Monaco manager

The eleven 👥

For this match after the international break, Adi Hütter did not make any tactical changes and stuck with his 3-4-2-1. The only change to note compared to the match against Lens was Denis Zakaria in midfield in place of the suspended Mohamed Camara. Caio Henrique, who made his debut with Brazil over the break, was once again deployed on the left flank.

👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @FCLorient

‣ #FCLASM pic.twitter.com/48PRCtf7XZ

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 17, 2023

The scenario 🎞

In front of nearly 300 Monegasque supporters who came to cheer their team on, the Rouge et Blanc were stunned by a long ball as Aiyegun Tosin managed to beat Philipp Köhn in his one-on-one (2′). It was a quickly conceded opening goal reminiscent of that against Clermont and Nantes at the start of the season. Accustomed to this scenario on the road, the team did not panic and Wissam Ben Yedder’s volley was just wide of Yvon Mvogo’s post (6′).

Brilliant team play finished by’

Then at the end of a sublime collective action started by a great bit of skill from Takumi Minamino, Youssouf Fofana played in Aleksandr Golovin in the area with a fine ouch of the ball. The AS Monaco number 17 showed perfect control before placing the ball into the top corner (17th). It was a magnificent goal as an equalizer for his second of the season, following the one he had scored against Lens on the last day.

𝐌𝐚𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 🪄

1⃣-1⃣ #FCLASM pic.twitter.com/EDbgC0BzcP

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 17, 2023

Plenty of Rouge et Blanc domination

Dominant and extremely lively in the opposing half (10 touches in the Lorient penalty area in the first 30 minutes), they continue to push and Vanderson tried his luck from the edge of the area. This is unfortunately captured by the Swiss international. The meeting then drops in intensity. However, Philipp Köhn had to be on a volley from Eli Kroupi at the near post, which came after a long ball in behind the defence (35′).

Level at the break, Adi Hütter’s men started the second period half strongly, creating several dangerous chances. Well found by Golo, Youssouf Fofana saw his shot saved by the Lorient goalkeeper, before Vandi’s shot was turned away for a corner by a defender (48′). On the following corner kick, Wilfried Singo’s header was cleared off his line by Isaak Touré (49′).

On continue, allez 👊

𝟻𝟹' | 1⃣-1⃣ #FCLASM pic.twitter.com/nZMH8d3d1a

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 17, 2023

Balogun: first touch, first goal

After the hour mark, the Austrian manager made three changes as he brought on Maghnes Akliouche, Krépin Diatta and Folarin Balogun. And one of his first touches the American international beat Yvon Mvogo from a tight angle to allow the Rouge et Blanc to take the lead (69′), thus scoring his first goal in Rouge et Blanc. Of note on this play was a fine assist for Aleksandr Golovin, his 28th in Ligue 1 since his arrival.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝘂𝘆 😋🇺🇸

1⃣-2⃣ #FCLASM pic.twitter.com/8ck8c8joai

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 17, 2023

An frustrating draw

Ahead now, the teammates of Eliot Matazo, who had also come into the game, continued to push to try to gain the upper hand once and for all. This could have been the case thanks to Balo but his goal was refused for an offside by Takumi Minamino (84′) before Ismail Jakobs’ header narrowly missed (89′).

Unfortunately, on a final long ball, Isaak Touré would pick out Romain Faivre who equalized in the last moments of the game. It was an infuriating end as AS Monaco had been very dominant. This point still allowed AS Monaco to remain at the top of the league table before the next round of play, and will be in action next Friday against Nice (9 p.m.) in the Côte d’Azur derby.

𝗙𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 🔚

L'AS Monaco prend un point sur la pelouse de Lorient.

Focus sur le Derby vendredi prochain 👊

2⃣-2⃣ #FCLASM pic.twitter.com/DCzjINet3C

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 17, 2023

Key moments 🎥

2′: The opening goal is score by Tosin (1-0)
6′: A volley from the left by Ben Yedder flirts with the post
17′: Golovin equalizes with a shot into the top corner (1-1)
32′: Shot on target from Vanderson from the edge of the area
48′: Fofana’s attempt is saved by Mvogo
49′: Singo’s header is cleared off the line by Touré
69′: Monaco takes the lead thanks to Balogun (1-2)
84′: Goal denied to Balogun for offside by Minamino
88′: A header from Jakobs is narrowly wide
90+8′: Equaliser by Faivre (2-2)

The stat 📊

AS Monaco have won five points after goinf behind in Ligue 1 this season, more than any other team. This strength of character comes from the quality of the team’s substitutes, who have already scored three times this season. This was the case again this Sunday with Folarin Balogun, decisive just a few minutes after coming off the bench.

📋 Match details:

Sunday, September 17 – Stade du Moustoir

Ligue 1 – Matchday 5: FC Lorient 2-2 AS Monaco

Halftime: 1-1

Goals: Tosin (2′), Faivre (90+8′) for FC Lorient; Golovin (17′), Balogun (69′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Zakaria (68′) for AS Monaco

FC Lorient: Mvogo – Talbi, Laporte, Touré – Kalulu (Silva, 70′), Abergel © , Ponceau (Mvuka, 70′), Le Goff (Mendy, 70′) – Faivre, Kroupi (Le Bris, 55′) – Tosin (Doucouré, 82′)

Substitutes: Gomis, Mendy, Mouyokolo, Silva, Yongwa, Le Bris, Doucouré, Mvuka, Pagis

Manager: Régis Le Bris

AS Monaco: Köhn – Singo, Maripan, Magassa – Vanderson (Diatta, 66′), Zakaria (Matazo, 83′), Fofana (Akliouche, 66′), C. Henrique – Golovin, Minamino (Jakobs, 86′) – Ben Yedder © (Balogun, 66′)

Substitutes: Majecki, Jakobs, Matsima, Akliouche, Diatta, Matazo, Balogun, Boadu, Efekele

Manager: Adi Hütter