Wissam Ben Yedder and Krépin Diatta got the goals as AS Monaco won 2-0 away to AC Ajaccio on Sunday to keep the pressure on the sides above them in the race for a top-three finish.
AC Ajaccio 0-2 AS Monaco
THE MATCH
Monaco were looking to get back on track after failing to win in three Ligue 1 Uber Eats outings since being knocked out of the UEFA Europa League by Bayer Leverkusen. The principality side duly went in front just before the half-hour mark in Corsica. Guillermo Maripán’s free header from a Caio Henrique free-kick was well saved by Benjamin Leroy, but captain Ben Yedder was on hand to score the follow-up (27’).
Ajaccio offered little going forward and were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when their Burkina Faso winger Cyrille Bayala was shown a straight red card for a late and high tackle on Caio Henrique (53’).
It became even harder for the home side with 10 men, even if Ajaccio did come close to equalising 10 minutes from time when substitute Riad Nouri curled a shot just wide. Shortly after that Monaco sealed the win, with Mohamed Camara setting up Krépin Diatta to score (84’).
Monaco’s win consolidates their grip on fourth place but also keeps them on the coat tails of Olympique de Marseille and RC Lens above them. Ajaccio remain in the relegation zone after suffering their 10th defeat in 12 league outings in 2023.
THE PLAYER: Wissam Ben Yedder
It was not a classic performance from Ben Yedder or Monaco, but the striker followed up his hat-trick in the 7-1 win over the same opponents in January by getting the all-important opening goal here. He now has 17 goals in Ligue 1 this season, and 23 in all competitions.
THE STAT: 9
Ajaccio have scored just nine goals at home this season, making them the only team in Ligue 1 not to have reached double figures in front of their own fans.
