Monaco’s Champions League Dream Crushed by Benfica Draw
AS Monaco’s valiant efforts to reach the Champions League Round of 16 came to a heartbreaking end on Tuesday night as they conceded a late equalizer to Benfica, resulting in a 3-3 draw that sent the Portuguese side through on away goals.
Dominant Display Falls Short
Monaco entered the match knowing that only a victory would suffice to advance, a feat no French club had ever achieved in the history of the competition. Despite the pressure, they started brightly, creating several chances early on, particularly down the right flank through Sofiane Diop.
However, Benfica stunned the visitors in the 22nd minute when they took the lead through Andreas Akturkoglu after a lapse in concentration by Monaco’s defense.
Undeterred, Monaco responded well and equalized ten minutes later through Takumi Minamino’s low drive. They continued to press forward and looked dangerous, but they were unable to take advantage of several other chances and were punished for a defensive error by Ismail Jakobs that allowed Goncalo Ramos to restore Benfica’s advantage just before the break.
Second-Half Rollercoaster
In the second half, Monaco came back with renewed determination and Eliesse Ben Seghir gave them the lead again with a stunning goal in the 51st minute. However, Benfica slowly began to assert themselves, and their pressure eventually paid off in the 76th minute when Nicolas Otamendi was adjudged to have fouled Gilberto in the penalty area. Kyriakos Papadopoulos converted the spot-kick to level the scores.
In a dramatic finale, Iyayi Atiemwen restored Monaco’s lead in the 81st minute, but their joy was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Benfica defender Jan Vertonghen’s header was cleared off the line by Jakobs, but the ball fell kindly to Orkun Kokcu, who fired home to secure the draw.
Missed Opportunities and Defensive Lapses
Despite their spirited performance, Monaco ultimately paid the price for their missed opportunities and defensive lapses. They created numerous chances but failed to convert them, while Benfica made the most of their own limited opportunities.
The result leaves Monaco’s Champions League campaign in ruins and represents a major disappointment for a team that had shown great promise in the group stage. They will now have to focus on the domestic cups and a top-four finish in Ligue 1 to salvage their season.
