A promising Monaco display goes unrewarded against FK Austria Wien
After Cercle Bruges (1-0) and Saint-Gallen (1-1), AS Monaco played their third preseason match Wednesday against FK Austria Wien. At the Estadio Municipal Fernando Cabrita in Lagos, southern Portugal, the Rouge et Blanc played their part in a fine display, which ended in a two-all draw.
To start, Philippe Clement, who still is without certain internationals who will be returning to the club later, played a 4-2-3-1, with in Fofana Lemarechal manning the midfield, and Volland partnering Musaba in attack.
Two goals in three minutes for the Rouge et Blanc
Luck was not with our Monegasques from the outset, as Aleksandar Jukic opened the scoring with a deflected shot which beat Alexander Nübel (0-1, 6′). But the Monegasque reaction came quickly… and twice! On a corner to the near post by Caio Henrique, Guillermo Maripán equalized (1-1, 14′) just before Gelson Martins, who was quick to get to a ball that was poorly cleared, put the Principality side in front without hesitation (2-1, 16′).
Hitting the woodwork… twice!
As this preseason encounter was obviously a match in name only, the Austrians equalized quickly, on a shot from range (2-2, 27′). Another chance would come quickly in what was a chaotic first half, but not the last, since Kevin Volland would earn a penalty… but hit the post with his attempt (29′)! All of this came two minutes before FK Wien themselves hit the post, through Muharem Huskovic (31′).
A new eleven on the hour mark
After this completely wild first half, the second would not stay on the same pace. Anthony Musaba (50′) came close to scoring, but the biggest chance was ultimately for the Austrians, who again hit the post (59′). On the hour mark, Philippe Clement made eleven changes and his coaching proved almost to be a winner, since Ismail Jakobs, on a cross from Vanderson, was not far from giving the victory to his team (81′).
After this very good test, the Rouge et Blanc will return to training Thursday morning, in order to prepare for their fourth preseason match, against the Portuguese side Portimonense SC, Saturday at 6 p.m., again in Lagos.
Match details
Friendly
AS Monaco 2-2 FK Austria Wien
Halftime: 2-2
Goals: Maripán (14′), Gelson Martins (16′); Jukic (6′), Gruber (27′)
AS Monaco: Nübel (Didillon, 60′) – Aguilar (Vanderson, 60′), Disasi © (Magassa 60′), Maripán (Badiashile 60′), C.Henrique (Okou 60′) – Lemarechal (Matazo 60′), Fofana (Pelé 60′) – Gelson Martins (Bamba 60′), Volland (Jean Lucas 60′), Golovin (Jakobs 60′) – Musaba (Efekele 60′)
Substitutes: Didillon, Vanderson, Badiashile, Jakobs, Okou, Jean Lucas, Pelé, Matazo, Magassa, Diatta, Bamba, Efekele
Manager: Philippe Clement
FK Austria Wien: Früchtl, Galvao, Holland, Huskovic, Gruber, Braunoder, Ranft, Handl, Fischer, Martins, Jukic
Substitutes: Kos, Helac, Keles, Polster, Wustinger, Tabakovic, Vucic, Meisl, Smrcka, Kreiker, Koumetio
Manager: Manfred Schmid
