Monaco 1 - 0 Angers SCO: Mario Pasalic effort enough as Monaco edge Angers

Posted Monday, November 02, 2015 by PA

Monaco extended their Ligue 1 unbeaten run to six games and claimed their first home win of the season in the process with a slender 1-0 win over joint-second placed Angers.

Chelsea loanee Mario Pasalic's solitary first-half goal was the difference in a scrappy affair that inflicted only a second defeat on the visitors.

Angers began strongly and both Billy Ketkeophomphone and Cheikh N'Doye went close inside the opening 10 minutes but the latter saw Danijel Subasic save his effort at the near post before N'Doye headed inches wide from the resulting corner.

Then, following a quiet period in the match, Monaco made the all-important breakthrough on 35 minutes when Lacino Traore flicked on Joao Moutinho's free-kick for Pasalic to tap home.

And the hosts could have doubled their lead just after the restart when Elderson Echiejile played in Rony Lopes but the former Manchester City man failed to find the target from six yards.

Lopes continued to cause problems and he forced a smart save from Ludovic Butelle minutes later while, at the other end, Ketkeophomphone screwed an effort wide of Subasic's goal after latching on to Jeremy Toulalan's clearance.

Angers pressed well late on and almost got reward on 88 minutes when a deflected shot fell into N'Doye's path but the visitors' skipper saw a header spin just wide.