AS Monaco were left frustrated on Saturday night after being held to a 1–1 draw away at Angers, despite substitute Folarin Balogun opening the scoring midway through the second half.
In their first Ligue 1 match after the international break — and the first under new coach Sébastien Pocognoli — the Red and Whites looked on course to return to winning ways before a late equaliser denied them all three points.
Monaco arrived in Anjou with an imposing record, unbeaten in their last eight visits to the Stade Raymond-Kopa and victorious in eight of their previous nine meetings with SCO. Despite that pedigree, Pocognoli’s side, depleted by injuries, took time to find their rhythm in a cautious first half.
Kassoum Ouattara registered the first real attempt after 16 minutes, but it was Angers who went closest before the break, Mouton firing narrowly wide and Abdelli forcing a goal-line clearance from Jordan Teze on the stroke of half-time.
After the restart, Monaco began to assert themselves, though Angers struck the post through Sbaï in the 50th minute. The visitors’ response was swift: Krépin Diatta’s powerful drive and Maghnes Akliouche’s delicate effort both tested goalkeeper Hervé Koffi.
The breakthrough finally came in the 72nd minute when Takumi Minamino’s clever flick set up Balogun, who finished clinically across goal to make it 1–0 — his second of the season and Monaco’s seventh goal from a substitute in Ligue 1 this year.
But Angers refused to fold. With five minutes remaining, Chérif struck a low effort from the edge of the box that clipped the post on its way past Philipp Köhn, levelling the match at 1–1.
Despite late pressure, Monaco couldn’t reclaim the lead and were forced to settle for a point — a frustrating result for a side that looked in control for much of the contest.
Pocognoli’s men will need to regroup quickly: they return to action on Wednesday night at the Stade Louis-II, hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.
