After defeating Valenciennes in extra-time, Ligue 2 side AS Monaco have sent a strong signal of intent to the rest of Ligue 1 world
Last night, in the pre-quarterfinals of the 2012/2013 Coupe de la Ligue, AS Monaco dismantled Ligue 1 side, Valenciennes 4-2. Two extra-time goals by Ibrahima Toure and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lucas-c22528 Ocampos secured a big win for the Principality side who will now be waiting to see which team they come up against Troyes in the quarterfinals of the competition.
Claudio Ranieri’s men were initially losing the game 2-0 but a great performance peppered with strength of character and a strong will saw AS Monaco level scores by the end of the 90 minutes.
Ibrahima Toure scored a brace, while Carrasco, Yannick http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ferreira-c13712 and Lucas Ocampos scored a goal each as the princely club sprung the first big surprise of the competition.
While talking to journalists after the game, Claudio Ranieri said that the game against Valenciennes was a good test for his side against a more experience and superior opponent.
“It was a good test against a superior opponent. We suffered in the first 20 minutes, but when we conceded two goals, we began to play.”
In a bid to once again rub shoulders with the elites of French football, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 as a way to earn a place in Europe next season.
Thanks to some generation funding by Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, AS Monaco have also invested in the youth. Lucas Ocampos for instance, signed from Riverplate this summer and at the age of just 18, has huge potential to become a real star for club and country in the coming years. the youngster scored a delightful goal in extra-time and Monaco fans might be seeing more of the same in future.
Like the Argentine, there were many young players who impressed. Valere Germain, Mendy, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Edgar-c11882 Salli et all did very well against a Ligue 1 side that put the young Monaco team to the sword.
Indeed, future is looking bright for the Monegasque club that needs to win promotion to Ligue 1 by the end of the current campaign.
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