Philipp Kohn saved an injury-time penalty as AS Monaco settled for a goalless draw against Le Havre AC at the the Stade Océane on Saturday night.
Le Havre 0-0 Olympique de Marseille
THE MATCH
Le Havre began the day nine points and just four places behind their third-placed visitors after an impressive start to the season, and they came close to opening the scoring inside the first 10 minutes when Antoine Joujou robbed Guillermo Maripan of possession and squared for Loïc Négo, whose shot from a tight angle was saved by Philipp Kohn (6'). Monaco settled as the first half went on, though, and Ismail Jakobs drew the first save from Kohn's opposite number Arthur Desmas inside the half hour. His shot was parried away and Youssouf Fofana sent the rebound wide (28'). Krépin Diatta then sent a cross in for Denis Zakaria after a smart dummy from Aleksandr Golovin, but his header was tipped over the bar from Desmas (31'). No more major chances followed and it was 0-0 at the break.
Late drama
Le Havre started the second half as they had the first: brightly, and Joujou forced another save from Kohn soon after the restart (50'). Nabil Alioui was the next to try his luck with a lob over the visiting 'keeper, but Kohn scrambled back to clear (53'). Maripan then had to intervene when Alioui got free in the box soon after (56'). Edan Diop (86') and Folarin Balogun (90'+4) - both second-half substitutes for Monaco - had a pair of chances late on that they failed to convert, and it was left for their goalkeeper Kohn to have the final word, saving a late, late Samuel Grandsir penalty after Diop had fouled Emmanuel Sabbi in the box (90'+10).
THE PLAYER: Philipp Kohn
Who else?! The German-Swiss shot-stopper saved everything sent his way, including five shots from open play, before denying former Monaco man Grandsir from the penalty spot with the last action of the game. Long-time France No.1 Hugo Lloris, watching brother Gautier for Le Havre, can't help but have been impressed.
THE STAT: 4
This was the first time the Le Havre had failed to score at least two goals at home to Monaco in all competitions. The last time Monaco kept a clean sheet at the Stade Océane was back in March 2003, when Patrice Evra was among the scorers for the principality side in a 3-0 win.
