AS Monaco brought back one point from its trip to Angers. Before the double confrontation against LOSC, the Red and Whites can celebrate their third consecutive match without conceding a goal.
There was little doubt that AS Monaco were going to have to face a very determined Angers side in front of its supporters, in the hosts’ last match of the year in their centenary and especially after three consecutive defeats. This was the case in a match that was a real battle. From the outset the scenario was closely fought with the Angevins, who chose to leave the ball to their opponents in order to play on the counter. Well-organized and compact in front of their area, they stopped the run of Bakayoko who set the game in motion in the 4th minute.
A first period at close quarters
From then on, the Reds and Whites played in the hosts’ half without finding the breakthrough despite a very active performance from Golovin. He was the one who played in Slimani with a sublime pass, but the Algerian international missed his chance. Despite their dominance, AS Monaco did not get a real frank opportunity during this first period, and were only slightly troubled by the offensively reticent SCO. Dias was forced into a block in the 39th minute after a nice individual bit of play on the left side of the area, but that was but one little opportunity in a first half that yielded no goals for either side.
Gil BASTIAO DIAS of Monaco and Sada THIOUB of Angers during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Wissam BEN YEDDER of Monaco and Sada THIOUB of Angers during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Aleksandr GOLOVIN of Monaco and Sada THIOUB of Angers during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Baptiste SANTAMARIA of Angers and Aleksandr GOLOVIN of Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Vincent MANCEAU of Angers and Islam SLIMANI of Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Tiemoue BAKAYOKO of Monaco and Ismael TRAORE of Angers during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Wissam BEN YEDDER of Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Gil BASTIAO DIAS of Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Gelson MARTINS of Monaco and Pierrick CAPELLE of Angers during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Adrien SILVA of Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Tiemoue BAKAYOKO of Monaco and Baptiste SANTAMARIA of Angers during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)
Baptiste SANTAMARIA of Angers during the Ligue 1 match between Angers and Monaco at Stade Raymond Kopa on December 14, 2019 in Angers, France. (Photo by Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport) - Stade Raymond Kopa - Angers (France)Angers’ counterattacks
The second half looked like more of the same, but it turned out to be much more lively. Shortly before the hour, Lecomte deflected an attempt by Thioub, at the conclusion of a well-worked counter (56 ‘). A few moments later, it was a Monaco corner which turned into a new counter on the part of the Angevins, with a corner obtained at the opposite end in a matter if seconds. In the 65th, Manceau tried his luck with a powerful shot, but he couldn’t surprise Lecomte, who saw the shot the whole way. The match was a little more choppy in the minutes which followed, in particular on a big foul by Traoré on Slimani in front of the penalty area of Le SCO. The Angevin defender narrowly avoided being sent off in a match marked by the unavailability of video refereeing, then the free kick taken by Ben Yedder was blocked by Butelle (71st).
Lecomte répond à Butelle dans le temps additionnel
If AS Monaco continued to put their foot on the ball and earn more corners in this second period, it was necessary to wait for additional time to see Baldé, on in place of Golovin, get a good chance on a good cross Ruben Aguilar, himself having come on in place of Jemerson. The good movement of the Senegalese led to a shot that Butelle stopped by quickly covering the ball (92nd). In the aftermath, it was Lecomte who shone by blocking a shot from Fulgini in the last play of the match. 0-0 was the final score, a third clean sheet in a row for the Red and Whites, who are now turning to face the two matches that await them next week against LOSC to complete the year 2019.
Photos : Eddy Lemaistre/Icon Sport
