ASM 3-4 Bordeaux: Jekyll and Hyde football

By: Richard | December 21st, 2008

AS Monaco 3 (Pino 14, Licata 44, 50)
Bordeaux 4 (Chamakh 52, 88, Diarra 67, Cavenaghi 89)

Study the chronology of that scoreline. If you read nothing else here, focus on that.

So, it was a treat to see that Setanta were broadcasting my favorite team at home to Bordeaux. I haven’t blogged in awhile, but Monaco are on another losing streak after getting thumped by Valenciennes recently. I wasn’t hoping for much against 2nd place Bordeaux, even at the Stade Louis II.
Imagine my surprise when Pino’s half-cross, half-shot looped over Rame. I thought I was hallucinating when Licata latched onto a bad ball and slotted past Rame just before halftime. (Rame did make it quite easy for him by falling down before the shot was taken).
Now I tell you this with 100% honesty: I thought Monaco would still draw or lose at halftime, I really did. Call me a pessimist, call me a poor fan, whatever. I watch this team week in and week out and I thought reality would set in eventually. So, what happened in the second half? Licata scored from a header from Pino’s cross (he was dynamite, BTW) and I really thought it was going to be Monaco’s day. For the first time in the match, I was truly excited and hopeful. I was certain Monaco would win.

So what if Chamakh pulled one back with a header a few minutes later. No problem, right?

67′: OK, so Diarra beat Ruffier with a miracle shot. Alright, so the three points are in jeopardy, but maybe ASM can hold on…

88′: Chamakh ties it with another header. Well, this is embarrassing and completely deflating after the start Monaco made, but if you would have offered me a 1-1 draw before the game, i’d have said ‘yes, please’.

89′: CAVENAGHI YOU B******!!!! @#@##%@&^&@%#^&#&@%#@^#&#^%#&!!!!!!!

I’ll be asking for a new television for Christmas as mine seems to have developed a smashed screen. What a bizarre and ultimately wretched match. It’s so fitting that ASM wear diagonal jerseys, could there be a more apt uniform for such a schizophrenic team?

Bah humbug.