Having beaten Sparta Prague 0-2 in the Czech capital in the previous week, AS Monaco finished the job with a big 3-1 win over Prague at home on the pitch of the Stade Louis II on Tuesday, August 10, thus qualifying for the UEFA Champions League play-offs.
The Monegasques welcomed their visitors from the Czech Republic on Tuesday, August 10 after an unsavoury encounter with the latter side’s fans. Just like in the first match, the red and whites firmly dominated the competition.
It took a short while for Monaco to start taking shots off, but did so accurately and regularly. Had it not been for a highly attentive Florin Nita standing tall between Prague’s posts, the hosts could have concluded the first half with a set of goals already.
However, it did not take many minutes into the second half for the visitor’s last line of defence to make a mistake. At the 50th minute, Monaco midfielder Gelson Martins made a run in towards the goal and took a shot from a very tight angle indeed, knocking the ball off the crossbar and into the back of the net for the opening goal of the match.
See all of the red and white goals below:
Then it was Aleksandr Golovins turn to impress, and that he did just six minutes later. The Russian international received the ball from Wissam Ben Yedder before striking it on his way down to the ground, making it 2-0 at the 56th minute.
After this brace of goals, and with the pre-existing two goal advantage in mind, Monaco head coach Niko Kovac made a series of substitutions, taking off both goal scorers along with Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland. Among those coming onto the pitch was golden boy Sofiane Diop, who would not disappoint the Croatian tactician.
Prague pushed back as best as they could with a goal courtesy of David Molberg-Karlsson at the 78th minute. At the 81st minute Monaco answered back through the right foot of Diop himself, after a clean step over to shake the opposing defender.
As the match concluded, Monaco emerged victorious, taking a 3-1 scoreline from the day to add to their previous 0-2 win to make for a resounding 5-1 victory over Prague in both qualifying legs.
This means that Monaco are through to the Champions League play-offs, wherein they will face Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, August 17 at home, and away on Tuesday, August 24.
The next fixture for Monaco will be a regular French league one, as the red and whites will travel up north to face off against FC Lorient on Friday, August 13.
Featured image courtesy of AS Monaco
