Yahoo Sports PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 0-1 Angers: Jean-Eudes Aholou’s effort shocks Stade Louis II
Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 10, 01/11/2024
Last weekend, AS Monaco fell to their first defeat of the season and Angers SCO picked up their first victory. This reversal in fortunes would continue into this week as Les Noirs et Blancs shocked the Stade Louis II with a 1-0 victory.
The Match
The tempo was set from the early exchanges when Angers looked to push Monaco back and take the game to their hosts. Les Noirs et Blancs have steadily improved after a dreadful start to the season saw them lose their first three games, and a victory over AS Saint-Étienne looked to buoy the team coming into this game.
Monaco on the other hand appeared sluggish. Mistakes kept cropping up in their play. A slip from the usually reliable Thilo Kehrer allowed Ibrahima Niane to stride forward. However, the forward was unable to link up with Farid El Melali who looked through on goal. It would take the 30th minute for Angers to turn promise into results.
Jim Allevinah tried to force his shot past a packed Monaco box but had to change his plans and looked to recycle possession to Jean-Eudes Aholou. The central defensive midfielder was on the edge of the box but chose to take the shot on first time. His effort sailed past Radoslaw Majecki and into the top left-hand corner.
The goal worked as a wake-up call and Monaco began to apply pressure on the Angers goal without testing Yahia Fofana. This continued into the second half with Adi Hütter’s taking George Ilenikhena off for Eliesse Ben Seghir at the break triggering a swap from a 4-4-2 into a 4-2-3-1 shape.
The hosts looked better than in the first half with the shift in formation, but still, they struggled to find a way to move and contort the Angers low block. In the 69th minute, it looked as if the break would fall to Monaco when Caio Henrique’s driven cross found Embolo in sight of goal. The Swiss striker’s effort was smothered by an excellent save from Fofana.
In the 75th minute, Embolo was again in a brilliant position as he was found by Takumi Minamino. However, the striker would waste the chance with a shot that went flying over the crossbar. At the other end, Majecki would be called into action after Esteban Lepaul warmed his palms with a well-hit shot.
Monaco had not done enough throughout the game and as the final whistle blew, Angers would lay claim to a famous victory.
Monaco Player Ratings
Radosław Majecki – 5
Caio Henrique – 6
One of the better performers on the night in a fairly poor performance from the 2nd placed team. The fullback looked like he had the drive and the ability to spot the pass that would unlock the Angers low block. It wouldn’t be, and his night was ended early when Hütter substituted him in the 84th minute.
Thilo Kehrer – 5
Wilfried Singo – 6
Krépin Diatta – 4
Takumi Minamino – 4
Lamine Camara – 5
Aleksandr Golovin – 4
Maghnes Akliouche – 4
George Ilenikhena – 3
The 4-4-2 system that Hütter went with from the start failed to work and neither Ilenikhena nor Embolo impressed in the first 45 minutes. However, there was a marked improvement in the squad when Ilenikhena was taken off at halftime.
Breel Embolo – 3
Embolo’s positioning was faultless during the second half but the two big missed opportunities will weigh heavily on the Swiss international. They could have been enough to rescue this game.
Selected Angers Player Ratings
Yahia Fofana – 7
Monaco did not offer too much threat to Fofana’s goalmouth, but when the goalkeeper was called-upon he impressed by preventing Embolo from scoring what looked like the best chance of the evening.
Jean-Eudes Aholou – 7
Ibrahima Niane – 5
