AS Monaco’s hopes of advancing to the Round of 16 in the Coupe de France were dashed as they succumbed to Stade de Reims in a penalty shootout after a tense 1-1 draw.
The principality club’s missed opportunities throughout the match, combined with an agonizing penalty shootout defeat, saw them crash out of the competition.
The encounter began with a frenetic pace, with both teams squandering early chances. Monaco’s Breel Embolo had the first big miss, failing to capitalize on a golden opportunity.
His teammate Eliesse Ben Seghir also blazed over in the opening minutes, setting the tone for Monaco’s wasteful performance. Junya Ito of Reims joined the list of early misfires, dragging a shot wide when it appeared easier to score.
Monaco thought they had taken the lead when Takumi Minamino found the net, but the goal was ruled offside following a tight call, one that was not subject to review due to the absence of VAR in this round of the competition.
Reims capitalized on Monaco’s profligacy before the break when Cédric Kipré rose highest to head in a well-delivered Teddy Teuma free-kick. It was a cruel blow for Monaco, who had dominated possession but lacked the finishing touch.
At halftime, Monaco made changes, bringing on Mika Biereth and Jordan Teze, who had an immediate impact. Biereth, making his debut for the club, created Monaco’s equalizer, delivering a cross that was converted by Mohammed Salisu.
However, despite their dominance, Monaco continued to struggle in front of goal. Embolo missed yet another golden chance, and Minamino failed to convert after being brought down in the penalty area. Replays showed a clear foul, but no VAR review was available to overturn the referee’s decision.
As the match neared its conclusion, Monaco had further opportunities to seal the win. Oumar Diakité of Reims missed a sitter from close range, and, in the dying seconds of injury time, Embolo squandered another unmarked header, this time straight at Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf.
With the score locked at 1-1, the match was decided by penalties, and Monaco’s struggles in shootouts continued. The team missed all three of their initial spot-kicks, with Caio Henrique, Biereth, and Lamine Camara all failing to convert.
Kipré had the chance to send Reims through but blazed his effort wide. Diakité, however, redeemed himself by scoring the decisive penalty, securing Reims’ 3-1 shootout victory.
The defeat marked a bitter blow for Monaco, who have now lost five out of their last six penalty shootouts. Reims, on the other hand, will progress to the Round of 16, with goalkeeper Diouf emerging as the hero after making two crucial saves.
Monaco’s wastefulness in front of goal will be the talking point, with Embolo in particular facing criticism for his inability to convert key chances.
Despite some encouraging performances, including a solid outing from Teze after his halftime introduction, Monaco will need to address their finishing issues if they are to bounce back from this disappointing exit.
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