Monaco edged out Lyon at the Stade Louis II Stadium in a contest that can best be described as a 'game of two halves'. Both teams had only kept one clean sheet in their six league matches before Sunday's encounter, and it showed as the match was an enjoyable end-to-end finale to Ligue 1 matchday 7.
Monaco won away at Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday and left their captain French international Wissam Ben Yedder on the bench. After their midweek league defeat to Lorient; Lyon made one change in midfield as Corentin Tolisso started ahead of Romain Favre.
Both teams had promising attacks when winning possession from the opposition. The first real chance came for Monaco in the 15th minute when Krepin Diatta hit the outside of the post after some good play by Alexsandr Golovin. Moments later Vanderson found space on the right and whipped in a cross that Breel Embolo headed straight at Anthony Lopes. Either side of the Portuguese keeper and the home side would have been ahead.
The hosts became content with Lyon having the ball and hitting them on the counter. Just after the half hour mark however it was Lyon who broke quickly but Tete could only put the ball over. Monaco then came close again, and for the second time it was Diatta, this time Lopes saved his low shot brilliantly with his legs. At the other end Alexandre Lacazette tried to pick out the bottom corner from the edge of the box but the ball went just wide. From the resulting goal kick by Alexander Nubel Lyon's high line was breached and Golovin raced through but he was denied by a vigilant Lopes. Just shy of the interval Lacazette slipped Tete in but he hit the side-netting. Lyon's defensive line was to be exposed again from a Nubel goal kick as he found Golovin once more but the Russian's rasping volley was somehow kept out by Lopes.
The second period continued to be end-to-end. Golovin who had been the stand out player on the pitch along with Lyon's youngster Malo Gusto bent a shot wide. Lyon dashed straight up to the other end and Nubel charged out of his goal to block Lacazette's effort. The former Arsenal man had found himself in acres of space but could not beat the keeper. The deadlock was finally broken in the 55th minute. Monaco's Brazilian left back Caio Henrique's delicious delivery from a corner was met by the head of Benoit Badiashile. There was nothing that Lopes could do as the ball flew into the top corner as Badiashile towered over Thiago Mendes.
Just eight minutes later it was to be 2-0. Henrique was the supplier again as his expert delivery into the 'corridor of uncertainty' was headed in by Chilean defender Guillermo Maripan. For all the good approach play the two sides had produced both goals had come from set pieces. It was almost three as Golovin bent the ball just wide again in the 68th minute. Golovin had caused Lyon all types of problems cutting off of the left onto his right foot. It was then Lyon who bombarded the Monaco goal in a frantic last 20 minutes.
Peter Bosz made four second half substitutions and Lyon looked even more threatening than they had before. Moussa Dembele came on for Maxene Caqueret just before Maripan's goal as Bosz changed formation. In the 75th minute he made a further double change as Rayan Cherki and Jeff Reine-Adelaide came on for Thiago Mendes and Johann Lepenant. And Bosz's men pulled it back to 2-1 nine minutes from time. Substitute Cherki found Karl Toko Ekambi who showed great technique as he struck the ball on the volley. Nubel could only get a hand to the ball as it went into the bottom corner. Bosz then made his last change as Faivre replaced Tolisso.
The away side then had Monaco camped in their own half as they searched for an equaliser. Dembele continued to be a nuisance but he failed to take any of his chances. First he headed wide, then in the 90th minute when through he blasted a volley only for Nubel to keep it out with his face. With the power behind the shot it's surprising he was not knocked out cold. Lacazette headed a decent opportunity over in injury time as Philippe Clement's men just held on for their first home win of the campaign.
An entertaining match where the second period produced the goals and some drama. If it was not for some good saves and wasteful finishing this could have ended being a cricket score. Monaco move up to 7th on 11 points within two points of Lyon in 5th. Monaco travel to Reims next in what could be a tricky game, whilst Lyon have the unenviable task of hosting leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Daniel Dwamena
@DubulDee
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