The first fixture after the international break posed a worthy challenge to a refreshed AS Monaco side, as Lorient put up a fight on their home pitch in Moustoir on Sunday, September 17.
Lorient’s Aiyegun Tosin surprised the visiting Monegasques with a chip shot past Philipp Köhn, off the post and in at only the second minute. Wissam Ben Yedder came close to rectifying the early blunder for Monaco at the sixth minute but to no avail.
Monaco midfielder Alexandr Golovin found the perfect response, carefully controlling a ball into the box from Youssouf Fofana before smashing it into the top corner to equalise at the 17th minute.
The match dropped in intensity thereafter, but remained physical throughout, with many men hitting the deck over the course of the encounter.
Monaco manager Adi Hütter revived his side with a triple substitution shortly after the hour mark, most notably bringing on star signing Folarin Balogun. Moments later, and on one of his first touches of the ball with Monaco, the American international found the back of the net from a tight angle to get his new team ahead at the 69th minute.
Another Balogun goal was refused as Takumi Minamino was flagged offside, but the real heartbreak occurred in the dying moment of the match, as Romain Faivre scored to level the score for a draw eight minutes into injury time.
A well-fought fixture ended with a 2-2 scoreline, and one point for Monaco. Despite the result, the Monegasques continue to occupy the top spot of the Ligue 1 table, and will be looking to stay on top when they face Nice in a Côte d’Azur derby at Stade Louis II on Friday, September 22.
