Monaco (AFP)

Wissam Ben Yedder prevented Monaco from losing their first match of 2021, by equalizing in the last second against Lorient (2-2), Sunday during the 25th day of L1, allowing ASM to consolidate its 4th place.

If Lyon had been trapped the day before against Montpellier (2-1), the Monegasques had only an equalization in extremis from their captain (90th + 3) the fact of not living the same mishap.

This draw allows Niko Kovac's men to keep their positive momentum - eight wins in all competitions in 2021 until Sunday - and, with 49 points, to find themselves three lengths behind Lyonnais.

Without Aleksandr Golovin, his current strongman, who felt discomfort in his left thigh on the morning of the match and for whom the medical staff did not want to take any risks, Monaco had the worst difficulties to destabilize the Lorient defense.

In the first period, only Ben Yedder was interesting, first on an off target header (34th), then on a free kick well pushed back by Matthieu Dreyer (36th).

At the very beginning of the meeting, the goalkeeper of the Merlus had also nicely had to ward off the defensive clearance of his rearguard (3rd) for a corner.

- Moffi vs WBY -

But until the break, the Breton defense was perfect.

One of its five members, Andreaw Gravillon, even offered, with a magnificent deep pass, a caviar for Yoane Wissa.

The attacker beat Djibril Sidibé quickly before being illegally stopped by Benjamin Lecomte (6th).

Terem Moffi scored on a penalty and from the left, his 7th goal in L1 of the season (1-0, 7th).

After the locker room, while Stevan Jovetic replaced an erased Krépin Diatta, we thought we saw the Monegasque standards of 2021 returned (only victories and three goals per game on average).

Quickly, Ben Yedder equalized on penalty (the 7th of his season and his 12th goal in L1) following a hand from Houboulang Mendes (1-1, 47th).

But while Monaco dominated strongly, that Niko Kovac began to pile up the attackers, it is on a new defensive error, a failed tackle from Sidibé this time, that Moffi, again, stood out.

The Nigerian striker accelerated, all in power, and offered himself a brace by scoring from the left (1-2, 62nd).

But this was not enough for Lorient: while Christophe Pelissier and his men thought they could compile 13 points out of 15 possible, Ben Yedder emerged as a savior, with a good recovery under the bar (2-2, 90th + 3) which preserves the Monegasque dynamic.

Not useless before a shock at the top against Paris SG next weekend at the Parc des Princes.

© 2021 AFP