AS Monaco needed an injury-time goal from Takumi Minamino to come out winners in a five-goal thriller against Strasbourg (3-2) at the Stade Louis II on Sunday.
Having lost to Lille (0-1) last week, Adi Hütter was looking for a reaction from his players, and he got one. His side swarmed Strasbourg in the opening minutes and were quickly rewarded when Folarin Balogun dispossessed goalkeeper Mike Penders, allowing Maghnes Akliouche to slot into the empty net. The latter celebrated his maiden call-up to the France squad in style. “He’s got a target on his back now,” said Hütter post-match, but Strasbourg struggled to contain him throughout.
Balogun feeling “more comfortable” at Monaco
Monaco’s intensity was unsustainable, and the away side, led by Englishman Liam Rosenior, would grow into the game, and would only be denied an equaliser by the finest of margins. Joaquín Panichelli had the ball in the back of the net, but Diego Moreira was offside in the build-up. The replays showed how tight the call was, and it wasn’t the only time that Le Racing would come out the wrong side of fine margins.
Strasbourg had a golden chance to make it 1-1, with Dilane Bakwa, on at half-time, threading through fellow substitute Kendry Paez. The Chelsea loanee opted to go around Lukas Hradecky when one-on-one, however, the Finnish goalkeeper got a nick of the ball, allowing Monaco to lodge a lightning-quick counter.
Less than 30 seconds later, Monaco had their second. Lamine Camara put Balogun in on goal, and the USMNT forward got the goal that his performance deserved, chipping Penders from close range. “I feel more comfortable out there now, and hopefully my performances will continue to prove this,” said Balogun post-match.
Rosenior rages against VAR decisions
It was another millimetric offside call on Balogun’s goal, confirmed by VAR, but it left Rosenior fuming post-match. “I’m trying to understand how our goal was offside and theirs isn’t. I feel like I’m going crazy! I’m very emotional right now because my players deserved more than what they got,” said the Strasbourg manager.
Despite the “adversity” his side faced, Strasbourg did get back into the game, and it was the Englishman’s substitutes that made the difference. England youth international Samuel Amo-Ameyaw placed the ball across the goal for Bakwa to volley home excellently.
It was Bakwa again, just two minutes later, who instigated the second goal, driving at Caio Henrique and into the Monaco box, drawing the clumsy foul. Panichelli stepped up and converted the resulting penalty, sending Lukas Hradecky the wrong way. The new Monaco No.1 had clearly been struggling in the second half and was substituted off moments later. Hradecky left the Stade Louis II with a strap on his left knee; the gravity of the injury is not yet known.
Monaco, shellshocked having seen their two-goal advantage in the space of just three minutes, regained their composure, with Eric Dier seeing a header cleared off the line. However, it was Strasbourg who looked the most dangerous as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes. Substitute goalkeeper Philipp Köhn had to make a good save to deny Paez, and Amo-Ameyaw continued to look dangerous.
Hütter once again “unsatisfied” with Monaco’s performance
However, it was the Principality club who would find the late winner. It was Akliouche again, who, inside the box, opted for the pass, rather than the shot, on this occasion, finding Minamino at the back-post. The Japan international’s diving header in the 96th minute secured the three points.
But in this game, described as a “rollercoaster” by Hütter, there was time for more drama, with Strasbourg’s Rabby Nzingoula sent off for violent conduct following an altercation with Jordan Teze.
“We cannot be satisfied. We showed that we are a good team, but to compete with the other top teams, we have to improve,” admitted Hütter post-match. The Monaco manager was nonetheless happy to return to winning ways, and conserve his side’s 100% win record at home this season. Monaco have six points on the board, despite Hütter’s continued frustration with the performances. He will be hoping for that to change after the international break, especially with the return of Champions League football drawing ever closer.
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Photo source: AS Monaco
