Without a win despite an incredible burst of energy, the Monegasques ended up losing in extra time against PSV Eindhoven (3-2) in the third preliminary round of the Champions League, and will compete in the Europa League this season.
After a draw (1-1) at the Stade Louis-II last week, Philippe Clement’s men lost despite playing a heroic game at the Philips Stadion against PSV Eindhoven (3-2 a.p.). The teammates of Wissam Ben Yedder, who had at one point given the advantage to the Rouge et Blanc will therefore play in the group stage of the Europa League this season.
One-way traffic… except…
It was a cruel start to the match! In a Philips Stadion made white-hot by the hosts’ supporters, who came out in large numbers, our Monegasques took the game from the off with first chances for Wissam Ben Yedder (1′), Youssouf Fofana (4′) and Aleksandr Golovin (5′), who tried their luck without success. The start of the match was perfect, PSV did not see the light of day. But on the Dutch side’s only chance occasion, Philipp Mwene played in Joey Veerman at the back.
PSV’s goalscorer in the first leg did not need to be asked and put the ball past Nübel (1-0 21′). Never dropping their heads, however, the Monegasques continued to attack in waves, but Wissam Ben Yedder, played long, was denied by Walter Benitez (45+1′).
The Rouge et Blanc push and take the lead
As soon as the teams returned from the locker room, the scenario was the same: a battle between attack and defense was set up and the breakthrough was getting closer, through Guillermo Maripán who saw his header hit Walter Benitez’s post following a free kick (54′). But in bending the men of Ruud van Nistelrooy would break, on a corner this time, from which the Chilean international, again involved, tapped home to beat former Nice goalkeeper (1-1 58′). The tie was again on level terms!
Completely pinned back in defense, Luuk de Jong’s teammates cracked a second time barely twelve minutes later when the substitute Gelson Martins sent a lovely cross in to Wissam Ben Yedder who finished beautifully with a flat left-footed effort (1-2 70′), his 74th goal in the colors of AS Monaco.
A cruel scenario to end the match, and to start extra time
Calm on the ball and in little danger throughout this match, our Monegasques would nevertheless concede an equalizer at the beginning of added time, as Érick Gutiérrez sprung the offside trap, to head home a quickly-taken free kick (2-2 89′). Extra time! During the thirty minutes of extra time nothing changed, AS Monaco mastered the match against an unthreatening PSV but once again lacked a bit of luck when Breel Embolo saw his header hit the crossbar (93′).
Still battling, our Monegasques finally conceded a third goal through Luuk de Jong, who was sharp with a header at the far post (3-2, 110′). Despite an exceptional burst of energy, the lack of finishing from Philippe Clement’s men did not allow them to level the score. AS Monaco lost and will therefore compete in the Europa League this season. We will have to lift our heads on Saturday in Ligue 1 against Rennes.
Source: www.asmonaco.com
