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French Cup 02 January 2022, 21:26

A young and serious AS Monaco move on against Quevilly-Rouen

A young and serious AS Monaco move on against Quevilly-Rouen
Rejuvenated and reinforced by eight players from the reserves, the Principality club qualified with great authority having traveled to face the 11th-placed side in Ligue 2 in the knockout stages of the Coupe de France (1-3).

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.

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′).

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.

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

Rise. Risk. Repeat.