Kept on their toes by an aggressive Toulouse, Jemerson, who scored one of the evening’s goals, and his teammates made a successful start to their Ligue 1 campaign, scoring a 3-2 win. Match report.
Starting XI: Subasic – Sidibé, Glik, Jemerson, Jorge – Lopes, Moutinho, Fabinho, Lemar – Mbappé, Falcao
ONE SHOT FOR TOULOUSE…
For the first match of the season, Leonardo Jardim focused on continuity, with 10 of the line-up spots going to players who were with the club last season. Rony Lopes was the only new face in the starting eleven, playing in right midfield.
Kylian Mbappé had the first opportunity of the game. Taking possession of a laser pass from Lemar right behind the Toulouse defence, the Monegasque forward penetrated the area but his shot was blocked in the nick of time.
Toulouse opened the scoring with their first play – Delort caught a corner from Jean and chested it, and Machach was in position at the far post to volley it into the net (7’): 1-0.
Monaco were swift to offer their response. In the thirteenth minute, Mbappé outwitted the defender marking him, picked up speed and sent the ball towards the near post, but it was deflected by Lafont. Lopes then tried for a long goal after a relay with Sidibé, but it went wide.
JEMERSON, THE HEADER SPECIALIST FROM BRAZIL
The ball clearly belonged to Monaco in this game. Falcao picked up a poor pass by the Toulouse defenders, but his cross aimed at Mbappé in the goal area was saved by Yago’s toe (20’).
As they pushed through, Monaco’s opportunities began to come together. Moutinho’s left-to-right corner kick found Jemerson’s head close to the near-side post. The Brazilian defender intercepted the ball mid-flight and tucked it into Toulouse’s net: 1-1.
Jemerson, who also scored during the last match of the previous season, picked right up where he left off and the first half drew to an even close, 1-1. The first 45 minutes had been marked by opportunities for Monaco who dominated possession (71%).
A FAMILIAR PATTERN…
AS Monaco got off to a strong start after half time. Lemar sent the ball straight down the middle with his left foot from 25 metres out – Lafont had to use his full length to keep it out of the net (46’).
But the pattern seen during the first half was set to be repeated. Toulouse winger Durmaz intercepted the ball on the left and took it all the way down the side before sending a cross over to Delort at the edge of the box. With a clean, low shot, the striker was able to place it out of Subasic’s reach to give Toulouse the lead once again (2-1).
EL TIGRE IS LET LOOSE…
The coach then made his first change, sending in Carrillo to replace Lopes and Mbappé took up position on the right. Alongside Falcao, the Argentine forward proved to be a threat to the Toulouse defence from the outset, creating space for Falcao. El Tigre took advantage of Jorge’s long cross to the far post and headed the ball in past Lafont (58’), scoring his first goal of the season in his fiftieth Ligue 1 match in Monegasque colours! 2-2.
GLIK, GLIK, GLIK!!!
Dominating every play, Monaco pushed to retake the advantage, finding success in the seventieth minute. Off another fantastic free kick by Moutinho, Glik proved taller than anyone else in the goal area and the Polish defender tipped the ball lightly past a wrongfooted Lafont. AS Monaco took the lead for the first time in the match, and it was a well-deserved lead at that. As for Moutinho, he got his season off to a perfect start with two decisive passes!
A CLEAR VICTORY
More than 25 crosses, 500 passes, 15 shots, 70% possession: however you cut it, Monaco dominated Toulouse who played on the counterattack. The last clear opportunities belonged to Monaco, with a free kick by Lemar which went high and a close-range shot from Carrillo saved by Lafont.
In Dijon next weekend, Leonardo Jardim’s team will try to edge a bit closer to achieving a record-breaking Ligue 1 winning streak. With 13 wins in a row, the Red and Whites are just one away from equalling Bordeaux’s 2009 run of 14.
Source: AS Monaco
