PLAYER RATINGS | Nantes 2-2 Monaco: Les Monégasques blow two-goal lead | OneFootball

Four days after booking their place for the Coupe de France final, Nantes hosted 4th-placed Monaco at La Beaujoire. Les Canaris were in need of a win to steer clear of the four-team drop zone while Les Monégasques could have gone level with Marseille before the latter’s away game at Lorient tonight.

The hosts started with plenty of energy and pace, preventing Monaco from causing problems to Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont.

However, the visitors scored with the first time of asking. The Nantes defense were caught cold from a corner. Jean-Charles Castelletto misjudged the delivery and allowed Axel Disasi to control the ball with his chest before lashing a powerful volley under Lafont’s crossbar. Les Canaris were the authors of their own misfortune. Monaco doubled their account from another corner. Lafont completely fumbled his aerial challenge and the ball rebounded home after a lucky deflection from Eliot Matazo.

Nantes were completely undone and showcased a variety of mistakes and unforced errors all over the pitch. The second half started as the first one ended. Nantes enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to make it count, while Monaco looked the more threatening. Lafont had to be alert to thwart attempts from Wissam Ben Yedder and Eliesse Ben Seghir.

Nantes boss Antoine Kombouaré shuffled his deck in attack with Ludovic Blas and Mostafa Mohamed entering the fray. An inspired choice with the Egyptian heading home from a corner struck by the Nantes’ Coupe de France hero. Aleksandr Golovin went close to restoring his side’s two-goal cushion, but Lafont produced a stunning save. A significant moment of the game, because Nantes were on the rise. Blas equalised fifteen minutes from time after concluding a fantastic collective play from close range.

Mohamed thought he had won it for the hosts after dispatching past Nübel, but he was flagged offside by the finest of margins. Monaco failed to professionally manage the game and were to be punished for it, blowing a two-goal lead and losing two vital points in the fight for third place.

Nantes’ player ratings

Alban Lafont, 5 – A rare blunder from the reliable Nantes’ last line of defence at the worst possible moment with his side conceding a second goal. He redeemed himself with a flawless goalkeeping display in the second half.

Sébastien Corchia, 4

Jean-Charles Castelletto, 4 – The Cameroon international is mostly to blame for Monaco’s opener, leaving far too much freedom and time to Disasi.

Andrei Girotto, 4

Fabien Centonze, 5

Samuel Moutoussamy, 6

Moussa Sissoko, 6

Florent Mollet, 4

Evann Guessand, 5 – An interesting performance from the young winger. He displayed good hold-up play and never shied away from his defensive work.

Andy Delort, 2 – The Algerian international was nowhere to be seen and was unable to strike a partnership with his teammates. He failed to score a single goal for the 8th consecutive Ligue 1 game. A striking contrast with Mostafa Mohamed (6), who scored six minutes after his introduction.

Moses Simon, 3 – The left-sided winger is miles away from the incisive player he once was with Nantes. The Nigerian international was as wasteful as his plays were predictable.

Others : Ludovic Blas (7), Quentin Merlin (6)

Monaco’s player ratings

Alexander Nübel, 5

Vanderson, 5 – The Brazilian full-back was at ease with dealing with both Corchia and Simon and was a constant outlet for Monaco’s attacking plays. He wavered in the second half, as his teammates did.

Axel Disasi, 6 – Lucky to escape a handball call in his penalty box early on. The France international was never really bothered by Nantes’ shy attacking impetus. Scored a fine goal from a powerful volley from a corner. Efficient in both penalty boxes.

Guillermo Maripan, 5

Caio Henrique, 5

Krépin Diatta, 4

Mohamed Camara, 4

Eliot Matazo, 5 – At the right place at the right time to score Monaco’s second, the Belgian midfielder kept things simple in moving the ball along.

Aleksandr Golovin, 4

Eliesse Ben Seghir, 5 – The 18-year-old is displaying maturity and tactical intelligence beyond his years. One of the league’s most exciting prospects

Wissam Ben Yedder, 4 – Against a frail Nantes side, we could have expected more from the France international, who missed two clear goal-scoring opportunities.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval