Skipper Wissam Ben Yedder scored a hat-trick as AS Monaco cruised to a 4-1 win over FC Nantes at the Stade Louis II on Sunday. Earlier there were also wins for Clermont Foot 63 and Toulouse FC.
AS Monaco 4-1 FC Nantes
THE MATCH
Monaco blew Nantes away in a whirlwind start in the principality as they found themselves two goals to the good inside six minutes. A slack pass by Andrei Girotto led to the opener in the second minute, with Monaco quickly taking the resulting throw on their left leading to Caio Henrique setting up Ben Yedder for a shot. Alban Lafont made the save but only succeeded in turning the ball out into the path of Breel Embolo who could not miss. It was 2-0 soon after and again the goal came down the home left, with Embolo this time turning provider for Ben Yedder to score with a cool clipped finish over Lafont (6’).
While Alexander Nübel was called into action at the other end to save from Evann Guessand and Quentin Merlin, it was no surprise when the hosts got their third goal before the half-hour mark. This time Aleksandr Golovin’s first-time assist was emphatically smashed into the net by Ben Yedder (28’).
Four straight wins
Home coach Philippe Clément sent on the returning Kevin Volland for Embolo at the start of the second half and the German was involved as Monaco got their fourth goal. He was fouled in the area by Girotto, leading to a penalty which Ben Yedder converted to complete his hat-trick (62’).
It was a horrible afternoon for Nantes, although they did grab a late consolation when Caio Henrique inexplicably turned a harmless Merlin cross into his own net with 11 minutes to go.
That goal was consequential for Antoine Kombouaré’s side, allowing them to stay outside the relegation zone on goal difference from Stade de Reims. Meanwhile a fourth successive league win for Monaco keeps them in touch at the top of the table.
THE PLAYER: Wissam Ben Yedder
The Monaco captain’s response to being left out of the latest France squad has been excellent, with his first goal of the season coming in the 3-0 win at Stade de Reims last time out and then a hat-trick here. He can also claim an assist for Embolo’s opener.
THE STAT: 100
This was the 100th top-flight meeting of these sides.
Elsewhere Clermont are in the top half after scoring twice late on to win 3-1 against AC Ajaccio in Corsica. Grejohn Kyei’s acrobatic early opener for Clermont (11’) was cancelled out midway through the second half by Cédric Avinel. However, substitute Elbasan Rashani prodded Clermont back in front in the 89th minute and then Jodel Dossou – also on from the bench – wrapped up the points in stoppage time. Ajaccio remain bottom of the table.
Toulouse fell behind at home to Montpellier Hérault SC at Le Stadium before coming back to win 4-2. Nicolas Cozza gave the visitors a seventh-minute lead, following in to score after Wahbi Khazri’s volley had been saved. However, a corner was helped on for Stijn Spierings to equalise (18’) and then Zakaria Aboukhlal (24’) put the hosts in front. The best was still to come as Farès Chaïbi made it 3-1 with a sensational finish just after the half-hour mark, and Brecht Dejaegere stroked in the fourth goal three minutes into the second half. Mikkel Desler was then sent off for the hosts before Elye Wahi pulled a second goal back for Montpellier midway through the second half.
The Champagne country derby between ESTAC Troyes and Stade de Reims ended in a 2-2 draw at the Stade de l’Aube, with the home side twice coming from behind. Reims went ahead early on through Folarin Balogun, the England Under-21 forward notching his sixth of the season on loan from Arsenal (12’). Wilson Odobert pounced on a goalkeeping error to pull Troyes level early in the second half, only for Junya Ito to quickly restore the visitors’ lead (54’). However, the Japanese international was shown a red card barely a minute later for a high challenge, and Troyes made the most of their extra man to snatch a point as Jackson Porozo scored from close range in the 90th minute, the goal given following a VAR review.
Meanwhile AJ Auxerre and Stade Brestois 29 drew 1-1 at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps. The home side had Julian Jeanvier sent off early in the second half and then fell behind as goalkeeper Benoît Costil allowed an Islam Slimani shot to squirm over the line just after the hour mark. A VAR-awarded penalty allowed Auxerre to draw level four minutes from time as M’Baye Niang netted from the spot.