PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 2-2 Lorient: Tiémoué Bakayoko nets last-gasp equaliser as Les Monégasques’ winless run at home continues | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 26, 17/03/24

Former AS Monaco midfielder Tiémoué Bakayoko netted a last-gasp equaliser to deny Les Monégasques their first win at the Stade Louis II since 3rd December 2023 as FC Lorient secured a point that could prove crucial come the end of the season.

Monaco haven’t won at home since 3rd December and the chances of picking up all three points against Lorient looked slim after they went behind with less than 40 seconds on the clock. Without ever getting a foot on the ball, Monaco were put under the cosh. Théo Le Bris’ brilliant reverse pass was latched onto by Mohamed Bamba, whose thunderous volley rocketed off the far post. In his attempts to clear, Wilfried Singo inadvertently headed into his own net.

Les Monégasques had chances to respond immediately. A rare poor ball from Laurent Abergel back to goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo was intercepted by Maghnes Akliouche, who back to goal, was forced to lay off to Wissam Ben Yedder, whose close-range effort was blocked.

Aleksandr Golovin then squandered a glorious 1-v-1 opportunity, seeing his shot saved by the feet of Mvogo before Takumi Minamino struck the foot of the post. The chances were coming thick and fast for Monaco, but they just couldn’t convert; ultimately, they wouldn’t have to with Lorient doing the job for them.

From a harmless cross, Formose Mendy attempted to chest the ball back to Mvogo, but he misread the goalkeeper’s positioning and ultimately diverted the ball beyond Mvogo’s reach and levelled up the scores.

Monaco pegged back by former Monégasque

Monaco’s barrage temporarily halted, but it was back up and running in the first half. Akliouche forced Mvogo into an important save before Ben Yedder missed another 1-v-1 just moments later. Les Monégasques did deservedly get their noses in front on the hour mark thanks to Youssouf Fofana, who nodded home Golovin’s tantalising cross.

Mvogo then pulled out his finest save of the day, denying Akliouche’s volley with a highly instinctive stop. Having weathered the storm, Monaco were then down to 10 men with Denis Zakaria sent off for a second yellow. After Aiyegun Tosin saw red for a clumsy challenge on Singo in the 89th minute, Monaco looked like holding onto their lead, but in almost the final touch of the game, Bakayoko came to haunt his former club, nodding past Radoslaw Majecki.

The result means that Monaco’s winless run at home continues and more importantly, they miss the chance to go above Stade Brestois and into second. Lorient are now out of the relegation play-off spot.

Monaco player ratings

Radoslaw Majecki – 6

Kassoum Ouattara – 3

Run ragged by Mohamed Bamba and Théo Le Bris in the first half, he was replaced by Ismaïl Jakobs (5) at the break.

Guillermo Maripán – 5

Thilo Kehrer – 4

Wilfried Singo – 5

Aleksandr Golovin – 6

Youssouf Fofana – 6

Denis Zakaria – 4

Zakaria has proved one of the best signings of the season in Ligue 1, but this was arguably his worst performance in the red and white of Monaco. He lacked his usual dominating presence in midfield, and whilst he can feel slightly aggrieved for seeing red, it certainly left his side under pressure in the closing stages.

Maghnes Akliouche – 5

Wissam Ben Yedder – 4

Uncharacteristically, he was very wasteful in front of goal. The France international got in the right spaces throughout the encounter but failed to beat an inspired Mvogo.

Takumi Minamino – 4

Lorient selected player ratings

Yvon Mvogo – 8

SInglehandedly kept Lorient in the game with a string of quality instinctive saves from close range, notably from Ben Yedder and Akliouche in the second half. That was enough to ultimately earn his side a point. How crucial will that be come the end of the season?

Formose Mendy – 3

An afternoon to forget for Mendy, who gifted a profligate Monaco a way back into the game with his sloppy misreading of the play on his own goal.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle