In a thrilling encounter at the Stade Louis II, Monaco secured their second victory of the season with a narrow 2-1 win over Reims in Ligue 1 round 9. The game was filled with drama and excitement from start to finish as both sides fought tooth and nail for control of the match.
The first half saw Monaco dominate possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances. However, it was the visitors who were able to take the lead early on through a goal from French forward Benjamin Mendy. The ball fell kindly for him after a poor clearance from the Monaco defence, and he calmly slotted home from close range to give his team an early advantage.
Reims responded immediately, however, with a powerful strike from winger Frédéric Giresse that looked destined to equalise before being deflected wide by a diving save from Monaco goalkeeper Romain Boéta. Despite this setback, Monaco continued to push forward and had several chances to score in the second half, but were unable to convert them into goals.
However, the momentum swung back in Monaco's favour when they took the lead late on through a penalty awarded for a handball by Reims defender Mathias Joris. Captain Kylian Mbappé stepped up to convert the spot-kick, sending the crowd into raptures as Monaco went ahead 2-1.
The final stages of the match were tight, with neither side managing to break down the other's resistance. Monaco held onto their slender lead until the end, with the home fans roaring on their team as they secured all three points.
Overall, it was a well-deserved win for Monaco, who showed great resilience and determination to come from behind against a strong Reims outfit. With two victories in as many games, the Principality club is now firmly in the running for one of the top spots in the league table.