AS Monaco slumped to a second defeat in as many UEFA Champions League outings this season, going down 3-0 to Borussia Dortmund in Germany on Wednesday.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
UEFA Champions League, Matchday 2, Group A
Borussia Dortmund 3 – 0 AS Monaco 
THE MATCH
Monaco came to the Signal Iduna Park seeking a first win in 10 games in the competition since beating Dortmund home and away in the quarter-finals two seasons ago. Leonardo Jardim’s team have been in wretched form, failing to win since the opening weekend of the season, but they gave their supporters encouragement with a battling first-half display.
Youri Tielemans came close to putting the away side ahead with a shot from long range that was tipped over by Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Bürki. Paco Alcácer came close for the hosts at the other end, curling a low shot just wide of Diego Benaglio’s right-hand post.
Benaglio was then forced off just before half-time, with Danijel Subašić replacing him for his first appearance of the season, and the Croatian was beaten three times in the second half.
Danish winger Jacob Bruun Larsen came on at the start of the second half and had a major impact, as it was he who opened the scoring in the 51st minute, stealing in behind the Monaco defence to control a Jadon Sancho pass and slot into the net.
Alcácer atones for penalty miss
It was one-way traffic after that, with Marco Reus inches away from increasing the hosts’ advantage before Dortmund won a penalty when the same player was brought down inside the box by Kamil Glik. However, Paco Alcácer missed from 12 yards, his shot coming back down off the underside of the bar (69′).
Nevertheless, the Spanish striker made up for that when he made it 2-0 just two minutes later, rounding Subašić and then drilling home despite Andrea Raggi diving in to try to block. Dortmund then completed the victory in the second minute of added time, when Bruun Larsen’s ball across the face of goal was turned in by Reus.
After a 2-1 home defeat against Atlético Madrid two weeks ago, Monaco now face Club Brugge with their prospects of reaching the knockout rounds already looking forlorn. The Belgians, having been beaten by Dortmund last month, lost 3-1 away to Atlético on Wednesday.
THE PLAYER: Danijel Subašić
It was another bad night for Monaco, and it was a miserable return to action for Subašić. The Croatian goalkeeper started on the bench but came on for the injured Diego Benaglio and was beaten three times in the second half in his first game since the World Cup final in July.
THE STAT: 9
Monaco have now gone nine matches without a win in all competitions since beating FC Nantes on the opening weekend of the Ligue 1 Conforama campaign. It is their worst run since 2011. They are also 10 matches without a win in the Champions League.
Be the first to comment