Match Reports
Montpellier stun Monaco with Al-Taamari double
A bright start...
With several players -- including Maghnes Akliouche and Aleksandr Golovin -- fit enough to be in the squad, the Monégasques no doubt had this match circled as one which could arrest their recent slide -- the Principality side last won in the league in early December and were looking to lift their heads after a midweek elimination in the Coupe de France. Montpellier, for their part, had just suffered a frustrating loss against Angers last weekend, and would be without the suspended Jordan Ferri and Kiki Kouyaté.
The visitors certainly started the more lively, as Benjamin Lecomte was called into action twice in the match's early going, with Eliesse Ben Seghir the danger man for the Principality side. Lecomte was also sharp to keep out Mohammed Salisu at a corner, but could do nothing about a header from Thilo Kehrer just past the half-hour. On a corner, Lamine Camara found the German defender who put his side into a lead they would take into the interval.
Montpellier’s hero 🦸♂️🇯🇴
🫶 MOUSA TAMARI 🫶 pic.twitter.com/NtjGe62som— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 17, 2025
But a strong reply
In control and a goal to the good, it seemed a sure thing that Adi Hütter's side would arrest their slide, but they failed to account for a fine display from Mousa Al-Taamari. The Jordan international was one of La Paillade's most influential players last season, but had yet to get off the mark in the current campaign. Just before the hour, though, he cleverly finished off a counter before then putting his side ahead seven minutes from time.
Monaco tried to respond through Mika Biereth -- making his league debut -- and Soungoutou Magassa, but once again Lecomte was up to the task, saving both their efforts in added time. With the result, Monaco could slip as low as sixth pending other results, while Montpellier, while still bottom, move to within four points of the relegation play-off place ahead of their trip to Toulouse next weekend.
The Stat: 10
Benjamin Lecomte made ten saves against his former club, a figure he's only exceeded once in more than 300 Ligue 1 McDonald's appearances.
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