AS Monaco delivered a commanding performance in their Coupe de France opener, defeating Regional 1 club Union Saint-Jean 4-1 at the Stadium de Toulouse on Sunday, December 22. The win secures their place in the tournament’s last 16 and offers a confident response to their midweek loss against Paris Saint-Germain.
Approaching the match as favorites, the Red and Whites were careful not to underestimate their opponents, a sentiment echoed by coach Adi Hütter in a pre-match press conference. Hütter made strategic rotations to the lineup, including the debut of goalkeeper Yann Lienard. Jordan Teze returned to the starting lineup as right-back, Vanderson was positioned further forward, and the midfield was anchored by Soungoutou Magassa and Eliot Matazo. Meanwhile, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Takumi Minamino supported striker Breel Embolo in attack.
Monaco established dominance early, controlling possession and testing Union Saint-Jean’s defence. Takumi Minamino had an early chance blocked, and moments later, Eliesse Ben Seghir capitalised on a precise assist from Breel Embolo to open the scoring in the 20th minute. The Moroccan international’s goal marked his second in as many games following his strike against PSG.
Monaco’s pressure continued to mount, with attempts from Jordan Teze and Minamino narrowly missing the mark. Vanderson eventually doubled the lead in the 37th minute, finishing from close range to give the Principality side a comfortable advantage at halftime.
The second half saw Monaco maintain their momentum. Kassoum Ouattara, introduced after the break, quickly made his presence felt but missed a close-range opportunity. Minamino came close on several occasions, including a missed penalty in the 58th minute. The breakthrough came from Jordan Teze, whose long-range effort in the 65th minute sealed Monaco’s third goal and effectively ended the contest.
Late-game drama saw George Ilenikhena, another substitute, make a strong impact. While his initial attempts were thwarted by the goalkeeper and the post, the youngster found the net in stoppage time, capping Monaco’s scoring with a fourth goal. Union Saint-Jean managed a consolation goal in the 83rd minute through Tournier, but it was too little, too late for the underdogs.
With this comprehensive victory, AS Monaco advances to the Coupe de France Round of 16. The draw for the next stage is set for Sunday evening. The Red and Whites now look ahead to a well-deserved holiday break before resuming competition on Sunday, January 5, when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions Trophy.
