One of only two two all-Ligue 1 matches, AS Monaco’s trip to face RC Lens was surely the most appealing in the Coupe de France this weekend, and the match more than lived up to those expectations.
The Africa Cup of Nations will weigh heavily on several Ligue 1 sides over the next month, but Monaco, in losing Wilfried Singo, Mohamed Camara, Ismail Jakobs, Mohammed Salisu and Krépin Diatta, have probably been hit the hardest, given how tightly fought the race for Europe is shaping up to be. With Aleksandr Golovin suspended and Taki Minamino at the Asian Cup, Adi Hütter had to offer up a somewhat makeshift side, but they still got the job done at the Stade Bollaert, working hard for a 2-2 draw before winning on penalties, a result that underscores the mental strength and resilience of the squad.
The ageless Wissam Ben Yedder, playing in a partnership with Folarin Balogun, netted the opener within a minute, and academy graduate Maghnes Akliouche, starting in place of Golovin, doubled the lead on twenty minutes. The Principality side were seemingly on their way to a comfortable victory, but Lens had other ideas.
The hosts managed to pull a goal back on the stroke of halftime, as Faitout Mouassa’s effort was deflected into the net past a hapless Radosław Majecki. Florian Sotoca made sure Ben Yedder wasn’t the only veteran striker to influence the match, levelling the match just after the hour mark. Both teams pushed hard for a winner, but the match would go to penalties at full time.
As thrilling as the match proved to be, the shootout was no less so, with Majecki and his counterpart Brice Samba both making several saves. Youngster Soungoutou, the ninth take for his side, proved to be the hero, though, converting following Adrien Thomasson’s miss to seal the result.
AS Monaco have been drawn against Rodez in the Round of 32, offering themselves a chance to avenge last season’s upset in the Round of 64, and are next in Ligue 1 action at home to Reims on Saturday. Lens, meanwhile, will have to console themselves with a visit from leaders PSG on Sunday evening.
The ageless Wissam Ben Yedder, playing in a partnership with Folarin Balogun, netted the opener within a minute, and academy graduate Maghnes Akliouche, starting in place of Golovin, doubled the lead on twenty minutes. The Principality side were seemingly on their way to a comfortable victory, but Lens had other ideas.
The hosts managed to pull a goal back on the stroke of halftime, as Faitout Mouassa’s effort was deflected into the net past a hapless Radosław Majecki. Florian Sotoca made sure Ben Yedder wasn’t the only veteran striker to influence the match, levelling the match just after the hour mark. Both teams pushed hard for a winner, but the match would go to penalties at full time.
𝗩𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗦 📣🤩
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 7, 2024
‣ #RCLASM | #CoupeDeFrance pic.twitter.com/PI8kI7I6ml
As thrilling as the match proved to be, the shootout was no less so, with Majecki and his counterpart Brice Samba both making several saves. Youngster Soungoutou, the ninth take for his side, proved to be the hero, though, converting following Adrien Thomasson’s miss to seal the result.
AS Monaco have been drawn against Rodez in the Round of 32, offering themselves a chance to avenge last season’s upset in the Round of 64, and are next in Ligue 1 action at home to Reims on Saturday. Lens, meanwhile, will have to console themselves with a visit from leaders PSG on Sunday evening.
