Monaco released by Bayer Leverkusen after penalty shootout
Frenchman Adli scored for Bayer. VALERY HACHE / AFP AS Monaco fell against Bayer Leverkusen…
Monaco released by Bayer Leverkusen after penalty shootout
Frenchman Adli scored for Bayer. VALERY HACHE / AFP
AS Monaco fell against Bayer Leverkusen (2-3, 5-5 agg), in the return play-off of the Europa League, Thursday evening at the Stade Louis II after a penalty shootout (3-5). A setback synonymous with elimination.
After clinching victory in Germany in the first leg last week, AS Monaco were to confirm this success this Thursday evening at home in the hope of securing their qualification for the round of 16. But it was Bayer Leverkusen who reversed the trend by dominating and winning on the Rock (2-3, 4-5 agg) after a penalty shootout (3-5).
The first period was quite eventful. Clearly superior from the start, Bayer Leverkusen managed to open the scoring following a very nice collective action concluded by Florian Wirtz on a cross from Jeremie Frimpong (0-1, 13th). A few minutes later, the young Eliesse Ben Seghir took a pass from Wissam Ben Yedder after a breakthrough and collapsed. A logical penalty converted by Ben Yedder (1-1, 19th) which allowed Monaco to equalize. But the German club did not let it go and following a badly cleared corner, the Argentine world champion, Exequiel Palacios landed a super-powerful curled shot at the entrance to the surface to regain the advantage (1 -2, 21st).
A faultless Bayer side
In the second half, Bayer Leverkusen continued on the same dynamic by taking the time to build well. Mitchel Bakker combined in a one-two with Palacios. The Argentinian then found Wirtz in the axis who brushed a perfect cross at the far post to find the header of Amine Adli (1-3, 58th). If Ben Yedder found the crossbar a few moments later (60th), the light came from Breel Embolo (2-3, 84th), who came into play, who took over a cross from Diatta with a header to reduce the score and thus hang the extensions.
After two fairly neutral overtime periods with rather tired teams, French striker Moussa Diaby offered his team qualification on the fifth shot on goal. A faultless Bayer side, while Eliot Matazo had missed his attempt, putting Monaco in difficulty.
