Moses Simon’s crucial contribution helps Nantes halt rotten record against Monaco

Les Monégasques had established their superiority over the Yellow Canaries in recent times, but the Nigerian international lent a helping hand in stopping the horrible record

Super Eagles forward Moses Simon delivered a satisfactory performance to help Nantes begin their 2021/22 Ligue 1 campaign positively with a 1-1 draw against Monaco at the Stade Louis II.

Nantes escaped relegation by the whiskers last season but will be happy with a point in the opening match of the new campaign against a side that finished third in Ligue 1. 

Monaco had the best home record in the French top-flight last term with 41 points from 19 games, and Niko Kovac’s men appeared to have picked off from where they left off with an early goal.

Brazilian full-back Ciao Henrique put in a great cross to which Cape Verde Islands forward Gelson Martins supplied a fine right-foot finish to hand the home side a 14th-minute lead.

Last season, Simon waited until his side’s matchday four clash with Saint Etienne before directly contributing to a goal (he scored in the 2-2 home draw).

But he wasted no time in getting off the mark this term after claiming the assist to Jean-Charles Castelletto’s equaliser for the Yellow Canaries on Friday night.

The Nigerian international swung in an inch-perfect corner kick which Cameroonian centre-back Castelletto guided into the back of the net three minutes before the interval to drag Nantes back on levelled terms.

Monaco enjoyed more than two-thirds of the ball possession and were constantly on the front foot but found a determined Nantes side difficult to break down.

None of the two teams could outwit the other after the break as Nantes secured their first point against Monaco in seven meetings.

Before kick-off, Monaco had won their last six face-offs with Nantes, handing them two 2-1 defeats in Ligue 1 last term.

Seven minutes from time, Simon made way for Quentin Merlin as Nantes manager Antoine Kombouare’s tactical nous dumped Niko Kovac’s strategy into the dust bin in the season opener.