PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 2-2 Monaco: Brice Samba heroics not enough as Monaco advance following tense penalty shootout
Coupe de France, Round of 64, 07/01/24
AS Monaco advanced in the Coupe de France at the expense of RC Lens after an enthralling penalty shootout (2-2, 5-6 pens.), with Brice Samba’s heroics ultimately in vain.
There were no signs of lethargy as Monaco awakened from their winter hibernation with a lightning-fast goal. Florian Sotoca’s pass inside was picked up by Wissam Ben Yedder, whose snap shot beat Samba at the near-post.
Monaco continued to look dangerous in transition and it was another clumsy Sotoca ball that Les Monégasques pounced upon. It was once again Ben Yedder who won it, this time from Neil El Aynaoui, who had been played into danger by Sotoca. Youssouf Fofana played it around the corner for Kassoum Ouattara, whose pin-point ball to the back post was perfectly met by Maghnes Akliouche, who couldn’t miss from just a few yards out.
However, Lens, who had more difficulty awakening from their winter slumber, grew into the game as the half progressed. Elye Wahi should have done better from a Sotoca ball into the box and Przemyslaw Frankowski then tested his compatriot, Radoslaw Majecki, in the Monaco goal just seconds later.
Faitout Maoussa then halved Monaco’s lead, driving into the box and driving a deflected effort past Majecki. Moments later, Les Sang et Or demanded a penalty when Wahi was brought down in the box by Thilo Kehrer. The German international was perhaps lucky, and with VAR not in operation, there was no chance of a reprieve for Lens. The decision infuriated Franck Haise, who was sent off for his protests.
The half-time break did not hinder Lens’ momentum; Haise’s side were in the ascendancy. Majecki was quick out to deny Wahi from a ball in behind before Maoussa forced the Polish goalkeeper into a
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