Monaco make positive strides

AS Monaco FC got their Group A campaign back on track as a goal at the end of each half proved enough to defeat ten-man Hamburger SV at the Stade Louis II to give the French side their first UEFA Cup points of the season.

Adebayor strike
Having lost their opening Group A fixture at Viking FK on Matchday 1, it was vital Monaco picked up three points from their first home match in the section, and Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor got the Ligue 1 outfit on their way with the opening goal a minute before half-time. Hamburg pressed for an equaliser in the second period, but had defender Khalid Boulahrouz sent off in the final minute before substitute Olivier Veigneau rounded off an impressive victory.

Midfield tussle
The first effort on goal took only five minutes to arrive, Monaco midfielder Olivier Sorlin striking a long-range effort that flew past the post. Jaroslav Plašil also tried his luck from distance soon after, but Stefan Wächter remained untroubled in the Hamburg goal and enjoyed a restful opening half-hour as both teams sought to close down any space in a congested midfield.

Gradual pressure
Their determination to give nothing away resulted in a spate of free-kicks but it was not until David Jarolím tested Monaco goalkeeper Guillaume Warmuz on 33 minutes that they were fully exploited. It was the home side that gradually began to take the initiative though, and after a patient build-up their pressure told just before half-time when Camel Meriem teed up Adebayor to rifle in.

Veigneau joy
The Togolese striker almost doubled the advantage early in the second half, but Wächter was equal to his shot from the edge of the box. At the other end, Boulahrouz had a shot blocked and his frustration came to a head in added time when he was dismissed for a foul on Warmuz. Veigneau then turned in Adebayor's pass to secure the victory that lifts his side off the foot of Group A while despite the defeat Hamburg remain top on six points.