Post-Match Report

Match report: Arsenal U-23s 4-3 Monaco

AS Monaco FC -

Boreham Wood FC
Premier League International Cup
Premier League International Cup
  Arsenal U23
      
                  Medley (17, 24)
                   Balogun (68 pen, 90 + 3)
            
   crest
Arsenal U23
Medley (17, 24)
Balogun (68 pen, 90 + 3)
4 - 3
  AS Monaco FC
      
              Sylla (20)
               Millot (29)
               Maes (50)
          
   crest
AS Monaco FC
Sylla (20) Millot (29) Maes (50)

WHAT HAPPENED

Folarin Balogun scores a last-gasp winner to book our place in the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup after an enthralling game against Monaco at Meadow Park.

The match saw seven goals, a red card and an injury-time winner, as we progressed into the last four.

After a closely contested opening 15 minutes, the game sprung into life with four goals in 10 first-half minutes.

The first came as we took the lead, when Jeremi Abonnel fumbled Matt Smith’s whipped cross and Zech Medley pounced to poke the ball into an empty net.

Monaco then immediately hit back two minutes later when a drilled cross flashed past the face of goal and was neatly controlled by Moussa Sylla, who fired past Karl Hein from close range.

Medley then netted his second goal of the evening shortly after when he lost his marker to power home a header, after Smith had delivered another inviting free-kick into the box.

Four minutes later, the visitors equalised for the second time when Sylla drove down the wing and teed up Enzo Millot, who directed an effort low past Hein from inside the area.

Monaco started the second half strongly and took the lead five minutes after the restart when Sylla slid a pass into Owen Maes, who controlled well and struck an effort past Hein via the crossbar.

We grew into the second half and were awarded a penalty in the 66th minute when Sam Greenwood was brought down inside the area. Balogun stepped up and slammed an effort down the middle to draw us level.

With five minutes remaining, Monaco were reduced to 10 men after Millot was adjudged to have headbutted Harry Clarke off the ball - and we took advantage deep into injury time when Balogun was played behind the defence, before chipping an effort in.

WHAT IT MEANS

By recording a win at Meadow Park we have reached the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since 2017/18. The draw for the last-four will be made at a later date.

WHAT’S NEXT

Steve Bould’s side next face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League 2 at Meadow Park on Friday, March 13 at 7pm (UK time).

By Sam Cox