The Malta Independent 19 April 2024, Friday
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French Ligue 1: Henry still seeking first win after Monaco draw again

Associated Press Saturday, 27 October 2018, 22:19 Last update: about 6 years ago

Thierry Henry still seeks his first win as a coach after Monaco drew at home with Dijon 2-2 in the French league on Saturday.

The France great replaced Leonardo Jardim this month and has drawn two games and lost one. He inherited a squad low on confidence and decimated by injury, however, with first-choice forwards Radamel Falcao and Stevan Jovetic and No. 1 goalkeeper Danijel Subasic all sidelined.

Henry would have been proud of Monaco's opening goal, powerfully volleyed home by German defender Benjamin Henrichs after 30 minutes.

But poor defending led to Dijon's equalizer four minutes later, with defender Mickael Alphonse given too much space.

After midfielder Mehdi Abeid turned in a cross from the right in the 58th to put Dijon ahead, Poland defender Kamil Glik headed in a free kick in the 79th to prevent a demoralizing defeat.

LILLE AND MONTPELLIER WIN

Portuguese forward Rafael Leao scored his first goal for Lille to beat Caen 1-0 at home and stay second behind Paris Saint-Germain.

Montpellier remained three points behind Lille in third place after winning at Toulouse 3-0.

So much for not celebrating scoring against your former club.

After making it 2-0 in the 25th with a sharp finish, striker Andy Delort sprinted away in brazen jubilation and slid on his knees as he let out a shout of joy. Delort is on loan from Toulouse, but made it clear this week he does not want to go back there next season.

Delort's strike partner, Gaetan Laborde, also scored and their partnership is blossoming. At the back, Montpellier has the second best defense behind PSG.

DECISIVE DEPAY

Memphis Depay came off the bench to set up one goal and score the other as fourth-place Lyon won at 10-man Angers 2-1.

Lyon played with an extra man from the 34th minute, after Angers captain Ismael Traore was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on striker Moussa Dembele.

But the visitors couldn't make the breakthrough until midway through the second half when midfielder Houssem Aouar headed in after being set up by Depay.

Dembele then broke free down the left and squared the ball to Depay, the Netherlands forward finishing with a powerful strike.

Spanish striker Cristian Lopez's scored a consolation in the 89th.

OTHER MATCHES

Nantes won at Amiens 2-1, and Guingamp drew at home to Strasbourg 1-1 to stay in last.

SUNDAY'S GAMES

PSG looks for an 11th straight win when it plays at bitter rival Marseille.

Also, Rennes hosts Reims, and Bordeaux faces struggling Nice.

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