Monaco 1 : 1 Saint-Etienne - Martial gets the point for Monaco

Posted Saturday, April 04, 2015 by PA

Anthony Martial scored moments after coming on as a substitute to earn Monaco a point against St Etienne.

The rivals for European places cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw in the principality.

Mevlut Erdinc put St Etienne ahead in the 62nd minute, but Martial levelled just six minutes later, having just replaced Matheus Carvalho.

Despite both sides boasting decent records recently in the league, shots on goal were non existent in the opening 15 minutes until Fabien Lemoine fashioned space 18 yards out - but his well-driven effort was well parried by Daniel Subasic at his near post of the Monaco goal.

The Serbian continued to be the busier of the two goalkeepers early on and he was called into action again in the 26th minute - but Kevin Monnet-Paquet's first-time shot from Yohan Mollo's blocked effort was straightforward for Monaco's number one.

The hosts finally woke up just after the half hour mark but Carvalho's quick-fire header from Joao Moutinho's delivery finished just wide of Stephane Ruffier's left post.

Despite having the lion's share of the first-half chances it was Les Verts who looked the more shaky following a goalless interval.

Firstly, Layvin Kurzawa's first-time volley went close to nestling in the top corner of Ruffier's goal before Dimitar Berbatov almost caught out the visitors' keeper with a clever close-range effort from Yannick Ferreira Carrasco's delivery.

Then, just after the hour mark, St Etienne awoke and grabbed the first goal of the game.

Franck Tabanou broke free down the left and his pinpoint cross was met by Erdinc, who looped an inch-perfect header over a dumbfounded Subasic.

However, that lead only lasted six minutes when, in similar fashion Kurzawa broke free and his delivery found Martial - who sent a perfectly-timed volley beyond Ruffier.

St Etienne threw on defenders Paul Baysse and Jonathan Brison late on as the hosts seemed invigorated by their leveller but, despite some late pressure, Monaco were made to settle for the point that saw them remain fourth in Ligue 1, three points behind rivals Marseille.