HERVE RENARDS SOCHAUX LOSES AS DIMITAR BERBATOV SCORES FIRST MONACO GOAL - SUNZU, MAYUKA AND SINKALA MISS THE MATCH Herve Renards FC Sochaux-Montbeliard last night lost 2-1 to Claudio Ranieris Monaco at Stade Louis II in a Ligue 1 match that saw Sochaux end up in 19th position in the French league. Meanwhile, the Zambian trio of Sunzu, Sinkala and Mayuka - the first two of whom are so dependable at the club - could not make it in time for the match as they had been on national duties in a come-from-behind 2-1 international friendly win over Ugandas Cranes at Levy Mwanawasa stadium in which they all started. Its not yet clear how and why the three could not make it back in time for the crucial match but Coach Renard was visibly frustrated by their absence when he appeared at the pre-match press conference. Preliminary reports indicate that the players are stuck in Johannesburg due to French visa issues. In the match last night, Dimitar Berbatov, the former Manchester United striker who moved from Fulham to Monaco on loan during the January window, opened the scoring in the 6th minute, when he scored what would be his first goal for the principality of Monaco. Berbatov, who proved a thorn in the flesh for the Sochaux defence also won the penalty that was converted by James Rodgriquez in the 54th minute. Sochaux pulled one goal back through Edouard Butin who scrambled the ball in whilst laid on the ground. Any realistic hopes of Sochaux completing the comeback and inflicting an upset were dashed when Jordan Ayews petulant kick on Andrea Raggi led to a red card for the young 22-year-old Ghanaian forward, who is on loan to Sochaux from Olympique Marseille. FC Sochaux is 5 points from safety and now lies second from bottom with 22 points - same points with Valenciennes FC in 18th slot but has a better goal difference by about 8 goals.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 09:42:39 +0000
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