Detourbet scores first Monaco goal in 2-0 win over Nordsjælland

Monaco extended their perfect start to the UEFA Conference League with a 2-0 win over Danish side Nordsjælland at the Stade Louis II on Thursday night. Mathys Detourbet, on loan from Manchester City, scored his first goal for the club.

Nordsjælland sit deep

The match was won in comfortable but unspectacular fashion. Few fans came to the Principality on a wet evening, and the visitors surprised Monaco by sitting back in a low block for most of the first half. Filipe Luís said he did not like the "horizontal football" his side produced in that period, which he said was largely what the first half resembled.

Monaco struggled to break down their opponents until a moment of inspiration from Jordan Teze, who was playing at centre-back. His pass found Takumi Minamino, whose swipe was dragged past the back post. Detourbet was there to tap the ball home, his first goal since arriving from Manchester City.

Offside goals and a late second

Monaco were more incisive after the break and found the net twice within two minutes. However, goals from Paris Brunner and Minamino were both ruled out for offside. Folarin Balogun had a legitimate chance when he headed towards goal, but Andreas Hansen saved his initial effort, and Balogun could not direct the rebound on target.

Nordsjælland pushed forward as the game wore on, but they created no clear chances and left space for Monaco to seal the points. Minamino went close with a volley, and a shot across goal from substitute Matthis Abline forced another save from Hansen.

The second goal came from a Detourbet clearance that was gathered by Abline. He ran forty metres before finishing, and the goal went to a former FC Nantes forward who latched onto the move.

Praise for Detourbet

Detourbet, who came through the academy at ESTAC Troyes, described the performance as his best in a Monaco shirt. Asked about his goal, he joked that it was an assist, as they all count.

Luís was also full of praise for the Manchester City loanee. He said Detourbet has the one-v-one quality he likes in attacking players. The Brazilian added that Detourbet has struggled to contribute to goals so far, with none to his name and no assists, and that the coaching staff are working with him to become more decisive and to step into the box more often. Luís said Detourbet was improving in that area and that the chance had come to him on Thursday.

The win means Monaco have taken maximum points from all three of their Conference League matches, a record shared by only one of the four teams in this season's competition to have done so. Monaco return to domestic action on Sunday when they travel to Le Mans, their last match before the international break.