Nantes 3-3 Monaco: Mostafa Mohamed scores twice but league leaders rescue a point through Myron Boadu
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ByEurosport
Updated 25/08/2023 at 22:19 GMT
All hope looked lost for Monaco late on as they appeared set for a first defeat of the Ligue 1 season, but Myron Boadu was on hand to rescue a point and maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign. Takumi Minamino and Wissam Ben Yedder had earlier notched for the visitors in a difficult evening against an impressive Nantes side, for whom Mostafa Mohamed got a double.
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Ligue 1 pace-setters Monaco were held at Nantes, drawing 3-3 in a result which gives the home team their first points of the season.
Monaco dug a hole for themselves with some diabolical defending early on, firstly through Denis Zakaria inexplicably lunging into a tackle to give away a penalty, which Mostafa Mohamed converted.
Ten minutes later, Monaco left Jean-Charles Castelletto unchallenged at a corner and he powered a close-range header home to double Nantes' lead.
The Monegasques pulled one back before the break as Takumi Minamino found space and headed in his third goal of the season.
Yet within three minutes of the restart, Nantes had their two-goal cushion back.
Mohamed bagged his second when a low cross was allowed to run to the Egyptian at the back post, whereupon he added a clinical first-time finish.
Wissam Ben Yedder reacted quickest to a ricochet to pull a goal back, then substitute Myron Boadu scored with his first touch to equalise in the 85th minute, again getting to a rebound first.
Monaco move onto seven points so are one clear at the top of the table, but have played a game extra. Nantes for now climb to 13th.
TALKING POINT
Monaco slip up. It is too early to start thinking about a title challenge and perhaps even what Monaco's aim for this Ligue 1 season is. But regardless of what they settle on, this feels like a missed opportunity.
Nantes were pointless after two games and manager Pierre Aristouy was already fighting for his job. They were vulnerable and, if put under pressure, you imagine things could have spiralled. Instead, Monaco gifted them easy goals, as well as momentum and something to defend.
The late leveller may make this feel like a point gained, but in the cold light of day it is surely more a case of two points dropped for Monaco.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Takumi Minamino (Monaco). By far Monaco's best player, Minamino took his goal well and frequently drove the team forward. Unlucky not to score a second goal after the break too, when he won the ball back himself and saw a shot deflected onto the post.
PLAYER RATINGS
Nantes: Descamps 7, Coco 6, Pierre-Gabriel 6, Castelletto 7, Pallois 7, Merlin 6, Chirivella 5, Augusto 7, Bamba 7, Simon 5, Mohamed 7. Subs: Moutoussamy 5, Sissoko 4, Ganago 6, Hadjam 5, Mollet 5.
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Nantes' Egyptian forward Mostafa Mohamed (2nd left) celebrates with team-mates after scoring his team's first goal
Image credit: Getty Images
Monaco: Kohn 6, Vanderson 5, Singo 4, Zakaria 4, Magassa 5, Henrique 6, Fofana 6, Camara 5, Golovin 6, Minamino 8, Ben Yedder 5. Subs: Diatta 5, Boadu 7.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
PENALTY TO NANTES! 4' - Simon gets on the end of a long ball but has nowhere to go, by the byline and just inside the box. However, Zakaria dives in for reasons only he knows and gives away a penalty.
GOAL! NANTES 1-0 MONACO (MOHAMED) 5' - Mohamed takes the penalty and, after a stuttered run-up, sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.
GOAL! NANTES 2-0 MONACO (CASTELLETTO) 15' - Castelletto is allowed a free header, six yards out, at a corner and powers the ball into the net. What a dreadful start for the league leaders.
GOAL! NANTES 2-1 MONACO (MINAMINO) 27' - Henrique gathers a loose ball to the left of goal and crosses for an unmarked Minamino, who jumps really well and heads in.
GOAL! NANTES 3-1 MONACO (MOHAMED) 48' - Nantes overload the left, Merlin crosses low and no Monaco player gets close to it, allowing Mohamed at the back post to slam home.
GOAL! NANTES 3-2 MONACO (BEN YEDDER) 58' - Monaco make ground down the left, work a cross and although Fofana's shot is blocked, the ricochet comes to Ben Yedder and he scores.
GOAL! NANTES 3-3 MONACO (BOADU) 85' - Boadu scores with his first touch! Fofana heads a cross from deep onto the bar and Boadu reacts quickest, volleying in.
KEY STATS
- Monaco squandered the chance to open a Ligue 1 season with three straight wins for just the second time this century.
- Ben Yedder, with four goals, is Ligue 1's leading scorer.
- Nantes have won just one of the last 20 Ligue 1 meetings between these two.
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