AS Monaco produced a performance straight out of the top drawer as they put five past Metz to take the spoils. Kylian Mbappé (3) and Falcao (2) got the goals.
The visitors were penned back inside their own half straight from the kick-off, as the Red & Whites dominated possession and scored from the first chance of the game. Moutinho found Falcao outside the box with a perfectly weighted ball over the top, and the skipper headed down for Mbappé to side-foot an unstoppable effort past Didillo and put the home side in front with just 7 minutes gone. The second goal followed within moments, Moutinho once again starting the move with a majestic pass to find Touré, who laid a first time ball off to Falcao. The Columbian met the ball at the near post to plant a finish past Didillon. With barely ten minutes on the clock, AS Monaco were already two goals to the good…
MBAPPÉ BAGS A BRACE…
…and two soon became three when Mbappé drilled home a low effort after seizing on a long ball forward by Fabinho, the young Monegasque striker making the perfect run and finishing with a coolness that belied his 18 years! On the half-hour mark, the Metz ‘keeper made his first save of the evening to keep out a thunderbolt from Mendy (31 mins). He then held onto another effort from Mbappé, before watching as Moutinho hammered in a shot that shaved his right-hand post. AS Monaco reached half-time with a three-goal advantage and a goal difference for the Ligue 1 season of +50!
…THEN SEALS HIS HAT-TRICK!
And they carried on where they left off in the second half, as Boschilia played in Mbappé perfectly down the left of the box after driving deep into the visitors’ defence. With the outside of the boot, Mbappé sent the ball out of reach of Didillon, who was left to pick the ball out of his net for a fourth time (49 mins). After bagging his first professional hat-trick in the Coupe de la Ligue against Rennes, this was Kylian’s first in Ligue 1, as the youngster left the Metz ‘keeper with his head spinning! In the 55th minute, Falcao timed his run to meet Mendy’s wonderful cross and notch the home side’s fifth. El Tigre now has 22 goals in 26 matches, 16 of those in Ligue 1! The evening went swimmingly for AS Monaco until the 68th minute, when Boschilia was left writhing in agony after a bad tackle by Riverez. The Brazilian midfielder was stretchered off with a knee injury, with Dirar replacing him.
DIDILLON PREVENTS THE SIXTH!
The Moroccan international was straight into the game, side-footing shot inches past Didillon’s left upright. The home side then came close to a goal of the season contender in the 78th minute, when Mbappé swung in a cross and Falcao tried an acrobatic overhead kick, but unfortunately the Columbian missed the ball by a hair’s breadth. The attempt was nonetheless warmly applauded by a rapt crowd at the Louis-II! Moments later, Falcao was withdrawn for Irvin Cardona, making his Ligue 1 debut. The youngster tried his luck in the 86th minute, but found Didillon in the way. The ‘keeper then prevented a sixth Monegasque goal as he saved Dirar’s long-range effort, a toe-poke from Mbappé and another Cardona shot that was heading for the top corner! The final score was 5-0, as AS Monaco continue to dominate Ligue 1 in style! Their next opponents are Bastia, on Friday 17 February!
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