Leonardo Jardim ‘very proud’ after Monaco defy two-goal deficit to beat Lyon

Posted Monday, February 05, 2018 by PA

Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim expressed his pride in his players after the remarkable 3-2 victory over Lyon at the Stade Louis II.

The Ligue 1 champions came back from two goals down to secure the win in a match that saw them reduced to 10 men just before half-time.

Lyon went 2-0 up through efforts from Mariano in the 12th minute and Bertrand Traore in the 27th before Keita Balde replied in the 31st, and Radamel Falcao equalised five minutes later, tucking away the loose ball after his penalty had been parried by Anthony Lopes.

Balde was then dismissed having collected two bookings in quick succession, and the problems for Monaco – who had lost goalkeeper Danijel Subasic early on to injury – continued as Falcao was forced off in the 55th minute with an apparent thigh problem.

But they went on to seal all three points thanks to Rony Lopes’ 88th-minute strike.

And Jardim, quoted on Monaco’s official Twitter feed, said with his side having swapped places with Lyon in the table by moving up from fourth to third: “For the collective attitude, this is perhaps one of my most beautiful matches on the bench of Monaco.

“We knew Lyon had success against us. But even after the difficulties encountered, the players continued to believe and we came back.

“In the second half, the best opportunities are for Monaco. It is not a miracle, that victory.

“The result is very deserved, there is no doubt. I am very proud and happy with my players.”

He added: “I’m happy to win, it’s my job, that’s why I get up every morning. When you win like that, it gives you even more motivation. But these are only three points.”

Monaco are now two points above Lyon and one behind second-placed Marseille, while the gap between Jardim’s side and leaders Paris St Germain is 12 points.

Jardim’s opposite number Bruno Genesio described the visitors losing the contest as a “serious mistake”.

Genesio, quoted on Lyon’s official website, said: “When we look at the face of the game, it’s a serious mistake to lose the match.

“We were one more on the field and it did not happen.

“We did not know how to put speed on the sides.

“We exposed ourselves to counters and we were logically punished after an insipid second period.”