Leeds United 2 AS Monaco 4: Rapid blitz costs depleted Whites after strong start - YEP 21/12/22
A disastrous nine-minute spell early in the second half cost Leeds United dear as Jesse Marsch's depleted Whites fell to a 4-2 defeat at home to AS Monaco in Wednesday night's final mid-season break friendly.
Lee Sobot
Leeds were missing ten first team players but were quickly
on the front foot and almost went ahead in the ninth minute when a fine pass from
Rasmus Kristensen released Sam Greenwood who sent in a low cross which Joe
Gelhardt sent narrowly wide on the stretch.
But the Whites were dominating and went ahead in the 13th
minute when a Marc Roca corner was met by Robin Koch who headed home a neat
finish at the near post. Monaco offered very little but equalised in the 25th
minute when a cross from the right flank was headed back across goal and met by
Breel Embolo to smash home.
Leeds continued to impress and a brilliant crossfield pass
from Brenden Aaronson played in Kristensen whose shot back across goal was
cleared near the line. After a fine ball from Roca, another Kristensen cross
then narrowly evaded Gelhardt who was denied a penalty after tangling with
keeper Alexander Nubel.
The excellent Koch was replaced by Diego Llorente at the
interval and Monaco went ahead just two minutes after the restart when Gelson
Batalha Martins tucked home an easy chance after Leeds had been cut open down
the left.
Worse was to follow as Monaco then went 3-1 up five minutes
later as Ismail Jakobs fired home as Leeds failed to clear a corner at which
Luke Ayling was out jumped for a knockdown. Monaco then bagged a fourth just
three minutes later as poor control from Kristensen led to Leeds being scythed
apart and the visitors worked the ball down the right where Embolo blasted
home.
Leeds attempted to rally and Willy Gnonto was by far the
brightest spark in the final half hour but three efforts failed to beat keeper
Nubel. The Whites looked set to fall to a 4-1 defeat but Gnonto was felled in
the area for a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time after Junior
Firpo's cross and Joe Gelhardt stepped up to slam home the spot kick.
