Folarin Balogun played as the lone striker for Monaco but could not find the scoresheet despite the team getting the shutout win over Montpellier.
Monaco 2-0 Montpellier
Monaco scored early and late to ensure all three points stayed in the Principality as the beat Montpellier at Stade Louis II.
Folarin Balogun started and played 73 minutes for the Red and Whites, completing 77 percent of his passes, winning three duels, and making one tackle while taking four total shots and making a key pass.
The hosts jumped out to the lead after eight minutes when Japanese international Takumi Minamino was quick to pounce on the loose ball following a shot from teammate Vanderson that Montpellier goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte could not handle.
Despite holding a 1-0 lead, the visitors put a lot of pressure on the Monaco goal as they clawed for the equalizer. Their best chance came in the 15th minute when Vanderson was put under pressure and lost the ball to Mousa Al Tamari. However, goalkeeper Philipp Kohn saved the Brazilian the embarrassment as he blocked the Jordanian forward’s shot.
Entering the second half things remained the same as the hosts could not find the goals to give them breathing space. They did get an advantage in the 69th minute when the referee showed Montpellier’s Boubakar Kouyate a red card for his horror tackle on Minamino.
Monaco finally got the insurance goal in the second minute of added time when Wissam Ben Yedder took the ball from Teji Savanier and fired into the goal from close range.
The Principality remains in third place in the standings with 27 points, six behind Paris Saint-Germain.
Note
Emmanuel Sabbi came off the bench to play 24 minutes as Le Havre was no match for Ligue 1 leaders PSG, even playing with 10 men, in their 2-0 defeat.
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