Monaco return to Ligue 1 with a late win

AS Monaco have resumed their Ligue 1 season with a late victory against Auxerre (2-3).

17-year-old Eliesse Ben Seghir’s brilliance was the game’s high point as the youngster netted in the 85th minute in a back-and-forth fixture at the Stade Abbe Deschamps. 

Monaco deservedly found themselves behind with less impressive action in the first half. 

Auxerre went ahead in the game through the penalty spot after Eliot Matazo brought down Lassine Sinayoko in the air. M’Baye Niang made no mistake and converted the spot-kick. 

Despite not impressing, Monaco found their way back into the game and were level thanks to a Wissam Ben Yedder. The striker restored parity from the spot after Takumi Minamino was clipped in the box. 

After the first half, Monaco boss Philippe Clement made three changes at the break to add more bite to the squad. 

The coach removed Matazo, Ben Yedder, and Minamino and replaced them with 17-year-old  Ben Seghir, Aleksandr Golovin, and Youssouf Fofana.

That was the masterstroke as two of those substitutes, Golovin and Ben Seghir, combined to complete the Monaco turnaround. 

15 minutes into his Ligue 1 debut, Ben Seghir put Monaco ahead when he slotted the ball into the net as he got in the box from Golovin’s assist.

 However, Fofana brought Auxerre back into the game through an own goal 

The midfielder, who was along the. France’s squad that finished runners-up at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup instinctively flicked in a harmless Auxerre corner to allow the relegation-threatened side an unlikely route back into the fixture. 

Ben Seghir eventually secured the win when he curled the ball into the far post from outside the box with just five minutes of regulation time remaining. 

Thus, Monaco secured the important win, all thanks to the academy product.

The win see them moved temporarily to number five as Lyon played later in the day.

In other Ligue 1 fixtures,  Nantes secured an away at Troyes as they remained in the relegation conversation.

Angers continue with their relegation battle as they succumbed to their 12th defeat in 16 Ligue 1 fixtures.

As they remain rooted at the bottom of the league with eight points.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed