MONACO FINDS THE NET TWICE IN AN AWAY ENCOUNTER WITH METZ. BOADU CAME ON TO WIN THE GAME FROM BENCH.
European hopefuls AS Monaco won for only the second time in seven games on the road as the ‘Monégasques’ defeated struggling FC Metz 2-1. In turn, the home side remained stuck on just one win at the Stade Saint-Symphorien this season.
Metz were in appalling form coming into this fixture, without a win in eight Ligue 1 games and scoring only two goals during that time. Meanwhile, Monaco required the maximum points for differing reasons, with their hopes for a European place hinging on improved away form. The hosts started the brighter of the two teams, but after a period of solid defending, Monaco started to open their shoulders and attack, with Youssouf Fofana going a whisker away from opening the scoring midway through the first half.
There were some positive runs from Didier Lamkel Zé as Metz tried to take a foothold in the game, but the first period was one to forget for either side,the final pass being absent for much of it. In particular, Ligue 1 top scorer, Wissam Ben Yedder, had been a shadow of himself in the first half. In turn, Myron Boadu was brought on for the visitors to partner Ben Yedder after HT.
It took less than a minute before the Monaco skipper bagged his 18th goal of the season, latching onto a through ball and finishing with aplomb. Metz almost equalised immediately, as their joint top-scorer Nicolas de Préville fired a shot inches wide, but they would eventually level the clash just after the hour mark, via a stunning volley from Ibrahim Amadou from a Farid Boulaya corner kick. Satisfyingly for ‘Les Grenats’ it was their first goal against the visitors in five H2H fixtures.
Monaco thought they had retaken the lead when Ben Yedder fed Boadu, but following a VAR check, the substitute was ruled offside. Undeterred, the ‘Monégasques’ did go back in front with just over 15 minutes to go, when Boadu headed in at the back post following a Caio Henrique cross. Despite much bluster from the Metz attack, Monaco’s defence held firm to collect all three points.
