The AS Monaco reserve squad faced off against Wolverhampton’s youth team and after a strong start, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Held at Wolverhampton’s home ground, this was the first match of the PLIC tournament for Monaco’s Elite Group, coming just ahead of their Youth League fixture.
Early Dominance
Originally postponed due to bad weather, the game was rescheduled for the Friday, and Monaco took the lead early. Aladji Bamba found the net following a well-placed corner kick from Saïmon Bouabré. The team had several chances to extend their lead, with Joan Tincres and Romaric Etonde both coming close, but they couldn’t capitalize before halftime.
Equalizer Dampens Monaco’s Momentum
After heading into the break with a 1-0 advantage, Monaco was caught off guard early in the second half. Wolverhampton’s Saheed Olagunju scored a stunning volley from outside the box in the 52nd minute to level the score. Monaco pushed for a second goal, but efforts by Etonde, Lucas Michal, and Amal Boura didn’t find the back of the net, leaving the game tied at 1-1 when the final whistle blew.
Moving Forward
Despite the disappointment of not securing the win, the match offered promising moments for Monaco. Their next challenge will be in the PLIC tournament against Reading on October 28, but before that, they’ll focus on their Youth League commitments with upcoming matches in Zagreb including against Red Star Belgrade.
Sébastien Muet, the Academy Director, expressed both optimism and frustration at the result, noting the solid start but recognizing the missed opportunities to secure a win.
PLIC
The Premier League International Cup is a football competition for under-23 teams from the best English teams and top teams across Europe. It is designed to provide players in Category One academies with the opportunity to match themselves against other elite European footballers from their age group in a competitive environment. The competition was created by the Premier League as part of the organisation’s Elite Player Performance Plan.
