Ligue 1: Montpellier Stun Monaco with Late Comeback to End Winless Streak

Montpellier Hérault SC came from behind to defeat AS Monaco 2-1, ending a seven-match winless streak and securing just their third league win of the season, thanks to Mousa Al-Taamari's late brace.

In a shocking turn of events, bottom-of-the-table Montpellier Hérault SC staged a stunning comeback to defeat AS Monaco at Stade de la Mosson. The victory was sealed by Mousa Al-Taamari's late brace, which not only earned Montpellier all three points but also brought an end to their seven-match winless streak across all competitions.

Montpellier entered the match on the back of a six-match winless run in the league, and their poor form had left them rooted to the bottom of the table. However, they had a peculiar statistic working in their favor: they had earned 100% of their points at home. Despite this, Monaco seemed determined to break Montpellier's home streak, and they created several scoring opportunities early on.

Monaco's pressure eventually paid off in the 30th minute, as Thilo Kehrer rose above the Montpellier defense to head home Lamine Camara's corner delivery. Benjamin Lecomte had previously made several crucial saves to deny Monaco's Eliesse Ben Seghir, Mohamed Salisu, and Takumi Minamino, but he was unable to prevent Kehrer's goal. The strike gave Monaco a well-deserved lead, but Montpellier would eventually find a way to turn the match around.

Montpellier's defensive vulnerabilities have been a persistent issue, with the team now conceding at least one goal in each of their last 24 league matches. This frailty left them trailing Monaco and forced to chase the game. Before the break, Montpellier's only notable scoring attempt came from Wahbi Khazri, whose tame effort from inside the box was easily gathered by Radosław Majecki.

The hosts finally managed to level the score 10 minutes into the second half, thanks to Mousa Al-Taamari's opportunistic goal. Al-Taamari capitalized on Kassoum Ouattara's misplaced back pass, calmly rounding Majecki before slotting the ball into an empty net. This goal set the stage for a thrilling final half-hour, with Montpellier pushing to take the lead.

In an attempt to unsettle Monaco and secure a win, Montpellier manager Jean-Louis Gasset made a bold triple substitution past the hour mark. Gasset had never overseen a draw in his nine career meetings with Monaco, and his tactical move was aimed at disrupting Monaco's rhythm. The substitution seemed to spark a renewed sense of urgency in Montpellier, particularly after Benjamin Lecomte made a stunning one-handed save to deny Soungoutou Magassa's pinpoint header at the other end.

In a dramatic turn of events, Montpellier's Mousa Al-Taamari scored a crucial equalizer with just eight minutes remaining, finishing off a swift counterattack with a clinical low strike from a tight angle into the near post. This goal put Monaco on the back foot, forcing them to regroup and attempt to salvage the match.

𝗙𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 🔚

Rendez-vous ce mardi au Stade Louis-II pour le retour de la @ChampionsLeague 👊

2️⃣-1️⃣ #MHSCASM pic.twitter.com/qPx7cGPMBQ

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 17, 2025

Despite their efforts, Monaco were unable to find an equalizing goal, and instead found themselves on the verge of conceding a third. Al-Taamari came agonizingly close to scoring again, sending his strike inches over the crossbar in the final minutes of the match. Ultimately, Monaco's push for a late equalizer fell short.

The final whistle marked a significant milestone for Montpellier, who secured their first league win in over two months and just their third victory of the campaign. Meanwhile, Monaco's winless streak continued, with the team remaining without a victory since beating Toulouse in early December. The loss will undoubtedly be a disappointment for Adi Hütter's side, who had been hoping to get back on track.