But : Aholou (28e) for the SCO.
“And more than the sea air, the sweetness of Angers. » Joachim du Bellay could have written about Monegasque gentleness, but the poet from Anjou had a keen nose to describe his city: calm, moderate, and family-friendly. Far from the recent turpitudes of the club, it is this state of mind which allowed the town of Maine-et-Loire to twist the arm of Monaco (0-1), at the opening of the 10e day of Ligue 1. A match without much relief on the Rock, but anything but a robbery, to the extent that Angers found Monaco completely asleep in front of it. Snoring, because it is the second consecutive setback for ASM, which lost the derby against Nice last week. The SCO is going the opposite way: a second victory of the season, the second in a row.
The Jewel of Aholou
If Alexandre Dujeux’s squad has won more points in two matches than in their first eight, a first for them since September 2022, the recipe is classic: a tight, compact block, and some flashes up front. A loose strike from Jim Allevinah as a warning, but the Rock was completely off the tectonic plate this Friday evening. To confirm the theory of players scoring against their former club, Jean-Eudes Aholou did not pretend. Jim Allevinah did not have time to know who had blocked his shot – it was Minamino – as the midfielder unleashed a left foot from 20 meters, with one touch (0-1, 29e). The midfielder scores his second magnificent goal in two games.
This jewel was enough for Angevin happiness. The century-old club then tried to wake up, but Caio Henrique completely missed his shot (38e). In the absence of Folarin Balogun (and his captain Denis Zakaria), he did not have a shot on target before the hour mark, a sad first this season. Adi Hütter decided to fire Georges Ilenikhena, four balls touched in 45 minutes, to bring in some experience at half-time. But Eliesse Ben Seghir’s forty matches in Ligue 1 did not allow the gentleness of Louis-II to be piqued.
In the Monegasque boredom of the second half, Lamine Camara shot wide, not Breel Embolo, but the Swiss international fell on Yahia Fofana, very quick to unfold his wingspan (69e). Served by Minamino just after, the attacker took control of his pivot, despite magnificent control. Too many failures to hope.
Angers got him a few counterattacks, time for Himad Abdelli to remind us that he could have the delicacy of Ben Seghir’s feet (90e +1), for Estéban Lepaul to practice the half-volley (82e) and for Ibrahima Niane to pay the price for a magnificent comeback from Wilfried Singo (90e). The Angevins didn’t care, because the feat was on its way. They give themselves some air in the ranking (14e), while Monaco gives PSG the opportunity to fly to the top of Ligue 1. Monaco will taste the sweetness of Bolognese on Tuesday in the Champions League, and will have to go there with a little more spice.
