AS Monaco stuns Angers SCO at Stade Raymond Kopa

Ligue 1 giants secure vital three points

AS Monaco continued their impressive start to the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Angers SCO at the Stade Raymond Kopa on Friday night. In a match that saw plenty of attacking intent from both sides, it was Monaco who ultimately emerged victorious thanks to a second-half strike from Breel Embolo.

Monaco's dominant start

Monaco started the game brightly and immediately took control of possession. They were quick to create chances, with Aleksandr Golovin and Wissam Ben Yedder both going close in the opening 10 minutes. Angers, however, were well-organized in defense and managed to keep the visitors at bay.

Angers' shock opener

Against the run of play, Angers took the lead in the 25th minute. A long ball over the top found Adrien Hunou, who controlled the ball well and slotted it past Alexander Nubel in the Monaco goal. The goal stunned Monaco and gave Angers a much-needed boost.

Monaco's response

Monaco responded well to going behind and continued to press for an equalizer. They finally got their breakthrough in the 35th minute, when Caio Henrique's cross found Embolo at the back post. The Swiss striker made no mistake and headed home to level the scores.

Embolo's winner

Monaco continued to dominate the game in the second half and eventually got their winner in the 75th minute. A lovely piece of skill from Ben Yedder created space for Embolo, who fired a low shot into the bottom corner. The goal sparked wild celebrations from the Monaco players and fans.

Full-time: Angers SCO 1-2 AS Monaco

AS Monaco held on to their lead in the closing stages to secure a vital three points. The win moves them up to second in the Ligue 1 table, behind only Paris Saint-Germain. Angers, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone after suffering their fourth defeat of the season.

Post-match reaction

Monaco coach Philippe Clement was delighted with his team's performance. "We played very well tonight," he said. "We created a lot of chances and deserved to win. We are very happy with the three points." Angers coach Abdel Bouhazama was disappointed with the result but praised his team's effort. "We played a good game, but we made a few mistakes that cost us," he said. "We need to learn from these mistakes and improve in the future."