AS Monaco lost to Stade Malherbe de Caen on Sunday afternoon at Stade Louis II as part of the 30th day of Ligue 1.
In a frustrating fixture, AS Monaco fell at home this past Sunday. A defeat against Caen – another low-lier on the Ligue 1 table – which would have been a good victory for Jardim’s men, who have been in better form over the last weeks though they struggle to remain consistent.
The Monegasques would take possession of the ball from the start of play, and even unleash the first shot of the game by Sidibé whose strike would be parried by Samba (8′). Despite rather visible desire by the Red and Whites to play attacking football, Caen would eventually open scoring via Crivelli, near the half-hour mark (23′). 0-1 for Caen.
Though behind on the scorecard, the Monegasque side would regain control of the match and give rise to the Stade Louis II public with their first real chance of the match when Rony Lopes threatened the Caen goalkeeper with a shot that crashed off the front post (44′). Nevertheless, AS Monaco would return to the locker room at the break empty-handed. Half time score: 0-1.
More of the same in the second half
Back on the pitch after half-time, Jardim’s men would resume the offensive in their attempts to draw level. Kamil Glik met the Rony Lopes corner for a possible equalizing header, only to be thwarted by Samba anew (50′). Gelson Martins would recover a Henrichs center five minutes later, only to see his shot glance off the Caen far post (55′).
Then it was Carlos Vinicius’s turn – having been substituted in for Vainqueur at the half – to meet a Golovin freekick, again to be stopped by a resolute Samba (68′). Without a doubt man of the match, a few minutes later, the SM Caen keeper would deter another shooting effort by Jovetic (74′) who had taken Lopes’s place on the field. Jardim’s team’s assaults would prove to be in vain, with AS Monaco conceding a frustrating victory to SM Caen. Final score 0-1.
Next match: Monaco-Guingamp, Saturday, April 6th, for the 31st matchday of Ligue 1.
*Article originally published on the French edition of the Monaco Tribune.