Recap: Late Drama as Lens & Monaco play out draw

Monaco hosted Lens at a sweltering Stade Louis II; in the week they were revealed some mouth-watering ties in the UEFA Champions League to come in September. Meanwhile, Will Still's side were left licking their wounds after failing to qualify for the UEFA Conference League against Panathinaikos: a clash against a competitive Monégasque outfit would be the perfect opportunity to bounce back.

Minamino had a huge chance to open the scoring just after the 20-minute mark, when Maghnes Akliouche threaded through a ball to the Japan international whose effort was saved valiantly by Brice Samba - but the flag would be raised for offside only seconds later. Lens would have a chance of their own when Ruben Aguilar fizzed a ball into Adrien Thomasson, but Philip Kohn's intervention snuffed out the danger. Wesley Saïd then broke in-behind but his strike was well over the bar. Les Sang & Or would come as close as they possibly could to opening the scoring when Adrien Thomasson beat Köhn with a lifted strike on goal that hit the post. Wesley Saïd followed up seconds later with a first-time effort that excruciatingly rattled the crossbar.

A clear dominance in the away side's chances, but Monaco reacted with a counter-charge just before the break. Folarin Balogun was sent through inside the box, but his strike from the left side of the 6-yard area couldn't trouble Brice Samba. Denis Zakaria then flashed a shot wide from just outside the box. The second half would follow a somewhat similar pattern to the first, as Lens looked to pounce on the counter attack whilst Monaco pushed their fullbacks up the pitch in an effort  to create more chances.  Yet, it was a mistake from ASM debutant Christian Massiwa which saw the ball fall to Rémy Labreau Lascary, who drove into the box and poked home a finish past Köhn for his first-ever goal in Ligue 1 - or so he thought. On review VAR would cruelly rule out the youngster's goal for an initially un-spotted handball as he drove into the box (78').

VAR Drama for both sides

In another twist of fate, Monaco would grab the goal to go ahead via captain Denis Zakaria who rose highest to head home from Minamino's delivery from the corner (84'). The Swiss international had been the standout player for the Principality side, and he proved decisive with an unstoppable headed finish. Pereira Da Costa's strike across goal proved dangerous as Lens piled the pressure on to find an equaliser in the dying minutes of the affair. Hamzat-Basit Ojediran got a chance on the edge of the box, and Denis Zakaria made contact with his arm and VAR intervened once more to hand Lens the penalty in injury time. Frankowski stepped up and dispatched down the right side for an equaliser with five minutes of added-time remaining (90+3). Monaco went close only a few minutes later when Breel Embolo's header was lifted just over the bar. 

But no side would find a winner in the remaining minute, as Lens and their supporters make the 900km journey back up North with a point from the Principality.

THE STAT - 27 

Caio Henrique has registered 27 assists in Ligue 1 since the 2021-2022 season, which is more than any other Brazilian player in  the top five European leagues in the same period.

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