After putting on a show in their 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the Parc des Princes on Sunday, AS Monaco have left home supporters baffled with a 2-4 loss to Troyes in the Stade Louis II on Wednesday, August 31.
The match started in the hosts favour, as a goal by defender Guillermo Maripan saw Monaco take an early 1-0 lead at the 10th minute through a well placed header on a corner. However, a foul in the box by Maripan resulted in a penalty for Troyes at the 22nd minute, and a yellow card for the Chilean international.
Florian Tardieu subsequently converted the penalty for Troyes and levelled the scoreline. The situation only deteriorated for Maripan, as the Monaco defender received a red card at the 44th minute, leaving a gaping hole in the Principality’s defensive line for the long remainder of this match.
Just minutes after Maripan’s departure from the pitch, Troyes’ midfielder Wilson Odobert took advantage of the situation by scoring a goal of his own to bring the visitors ahead three minutes into the first half’s injury time.
Mama Baldé then further extended Troyes’ lead over Monaco with another goal, this time at the 48th minute. Now 1-3 down and with only 10 men on the pitch, the hosts needed more than just another goal to bring themselves back into the match.
Mercifully a Monaco goal followed. Youssouf Fofana managed to bring one back for the Principality side, thanks to an assist by defender Axel Disasi.
Unfortunately for the supporters in the stands of Stade Louis II, Yoann Salmier scored for Troyes, bringing the score to 2-4 at the 78th minute and sealing the outcome of this Ligue 1 encounter.
The final whistle signalled another loss for Monaco, who must now prepare to face neighbouring rivals Nice at the Allianz Riviera Arena on Sunday, September 4.