AS Monaco continued their impressive start to the UEFA Conference League with a 2-0 victory over Danish side FC Nordsjælland at the Stade Louis-II on Thursday evening, securing a third consecutive win in the competition.
Goals from Mathys Detourbet and Matthis Abline settled a closely contested encounter, with the latter striking deep into stoppage time to confirm all three points for Filipe Luís’s side.
Prince Albert II and AS Monaco president Dmitry Rybolovlev were among those watching as the hosts looked to maintain their perfect European record following earlier victories against CSKA Sofia and SC Freiburg.
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The opening stages were cautious, with both teams taking time to find their rhythm. Nordsjælland threatened from a corner in the 25th minute, but Victor Nelsson’s header was comfortably collected by goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký.
Monaco gradually found their footing and broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. Takumi Minamino delivered an excellent cross towards the far post, where Mathys Detourbet arrived unmarked to finish from close range. The goal was a first in Monaco colours for the young French winger.
The home side carried their advantage into half-time before producing a lively start to the second period. Paris Brunner appeared to have doubled the lead in the 49th minute, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. Two minutes later, another apparent Monaco goal, this time from Minamino, was also disallowed.
Folarin Balogun came close to extending the advantage in the 59th minute, meeting a cross from substitute Vanderson with a header that Danish goalkeeper Andreas Hansen somehow kept out on the goal line.
As the match entered its closing stages, Monaco continued to search for a decisive second goal. Aleksandr Golovin created an opportunity for Abline in the 85th minute, but the striker’s effort drifted wide. Minamino also tested Hansen with a volley two minutes later.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the first minute of stoppage time. Abline used his pace to get in behind the Danish defence before calmly guiding his finish past Hansen to make it 2-0. The goal was the French striker’s first in European competition and put the result beyond doubt.
The victory gives Monaco three wins from their opening three Conference League fixtures, following their 3-2 success away to CSKA Sofia and 3-0 home win against Freiburg. They now sit among the leading teams in the league-phase standings, level on points with three other clubs.
The result also marks a personal milestone for manager Filipe Luís, who has won his first five European matches in charge of a French club, becoming only the fifth coach to achieve that feat.
