End of the adventure in the Coupe de France

The scenario was cruel at the Stade Robert Diochon for the AS Monaco players. Facing a valiant Rouen team in the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France, they ended up falling at the end of the penalty shootout, despite Folarin Balogun opening the scoring in the first half (1-1, 6-5 penalties). ✍️

The scenario 🎞

In a sold-out stadium, in front of a full away end with 700 Monegasques present and in the presence of President Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Rouge et Blanc showed themselves to be enterprising before Takumi Minamino was logically denied a goal for offside (5′). Shortly thereafter, Folarin Balogun managed to round the opposing goalkeeper but failed to get his left-footed shot on target (9′). Rouen’s response came ten minutes later through Abdelmoula, whose shot flew wide (19′).

Salisu’s crazy clearance

Dominant, Adi Hütter’s men, however, came close to conceding the opener on a double chance for the opponents. First it took a punch from Radoslaw Majecki off his post then a miraculous clearance from Mohammed Salisu off his line to prevent a Rouen goal (23′). It was a reminder which pushed AS Monaco to move forward and the American striker was brought down by Aggoune in the area (33′).

A story of set pieces

Mr. Buquet logically whistled for a penalty, which was converted with composure by “Balo”, wrong-footing the goalkeeper. This opening goal forced the Red Devils to come out more and on a quick counterattack, the Japanese midfielder played in Youssouf Fofana on the left but his shot lacked power (45′).

𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗼 👊

0⃣-1⃣ #FCRASM pic.twitter.com/sjkHa9uvuc

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 8, 2024

Half-time was getting closer and unfortunately on a last free kick at the end of added time and after a second chance, the ball came to the feet of Clément Bassin, who beat “Radek” from point blank range (45+5′) .

Maripán saves the Rouge et Blanc blushes

After the break, the Monegasques and Aleksandr Golovin created a first chance through the Russian maestro, whose individual run ended with a saved shot (47′). Then Balogun’s right-footed curling effort flirted with the left post (49′). But they again came close to being surprised shortly before the hour mark by Lamine Sy, who saw his effort cleared off the line by a heroic block from Memo (56′).

The winner decided on penalties

After this chance, Adi Hütter made a triple change with the entries of Kassoum Ouattara, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche (61′). The left back quickly impressed out with a superb cross for Balogun, who failed to finish with a header from six meters (73′). This was before the Monegasque number 17’s free kick flirted with the post (81′). Chances were then rare on both sides and the match was to be decided on penalties.

𝗙𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝘂 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀 𝗿𝗲́𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 🔚

Nos Monégasques vont devoir passer par la séance de tirs au but pour aller chercher la qualification 👊

1⃣-1⃣ #FCRASM pic.twitter.com/nbe1dqsLZk

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 8, 2024

The last word for Rouen

The first three shooters on either side did not hesitate and we had to wait for the fourth player from Rouen to see a penalty saved by Radoslaw Majecki. Folarin Balogun then had “match point” but the opposing goalkeeper anticipated well and stopped his attempt. It was thus time for “sudden death” where unfortunately it was Rouen who had the last word after a miss by Maghnes Akliouche.

𝗙𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 🔚

L'aventure Coupe de France s'arrête là pour nos Rouge & Blanc.

Rendez-vous dimanche dans le Derby pour relever la tête 👊

1⃣-1⃣ #FCRASM pic.twitter.com/q7RfTmZ2V4

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 8, 2024

AS Monaco thus exited the competition at the Round of 16. But there was no time to procrastinate as another important match will take place on Sunday with a trip to Nice (8:45 p.m.), in the Côte d’Azur derby.

Key moments 🎥

5′: Goal denied to Minamino for an offside by Golovin
9′: Balogun misses the target after beating the opposing goalkeeper
19′: Strike above the goal of Majecki by Adbelmoula
23′: Majecki clears the ball off the post then has Salisu clear the ball off his line
33′: Penalty won by Balogun on a fould by Aggoune
35′: It’s converted by the American attacker, who wrong-foots the goalkeeper (0-1)
45′: Too soft strike from Fofana
45+5′: Equalization for Bassin who gets on to a second ball after a free kick (1-1)
47′: A run by Golovin only leads to a saved shot
49′: A curling effort by Balogun is just wide
56′: A ball is cleared off the line by Maripán by repelling a shot from Sy
73′: Balogun heads over after a a cross from Ouattara
81′: Golovin’s free kick just misses Aggoune’s goal

📋 Match details:

Thursday, February 7 – Stade Robert Diochon

Coupe de France – Round of 16: FC Rouen 1-1 (6-5 penalties) AS Monaco

Halftime: 1-1

Goals: Bassin (45+5′) for FC Rouen; Balogun (35′) for AS Monaco

Penalties: Sahloune✅, A.Allée ✅, Z.Allée ✅, Benzia ❌, Ouadah ✅, Sanson ✅, Bernasque ✅ for FC Rouen; Golovin ✅, Ben Seghir ✅, Fofana ✅, Kehrer ✅, Balogun ❌, Maripán ✅, Akliouche ❌ for AS Monaco

Bookings: Mion (58′) for FC Rouen; Zakaria (45+3′), Akliouche (82′) for AS Monaco

FC Rouen: Aggoune – Sy (Z.Allée, 90+3′), Bouzamoucha, Sanson, Bassin ©, Mion (Bernasque, 90+3′) – A.Allée, Benzia, Abdelmoula (Bezzekhami, 68′) – Loppy (Ouadah, 81′)

Substitutes: Maraval, Bezzekhami, Bernasque, Bensoula, Deschamps, Z.Allée, Benkaid, Dia, Sahloune

Manager: Maxime D’Ornano

AS Monaco: Majecki – Kehrer, Maripán, Salisu – Vanderson, Fofana ©, Zakaria (Ben Seghir, 61′), Jakobs (Ouattara, 60′) – Minamino (Akliouche, 61′), Golovin – Balogun

Substitutes: Köhn, Ouattara, Ben Seghir, Camara, Coulibaly, Diop, Magassa, Akliouche, Michal

Manager: Adi Hütter