AS Monaco Secures Late Comeback to Draw Against Dinamo Zagreb

On a rainy night at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, AS Monaco fought back from two goals down to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League match held on Wednesday. The match saw a remarkable comeback effort spearheaded by a 90th-minute penalty from Denis Zakaria.

Dinamo Zagreb initially took the lead in the first half’s added time with Petar Sucic skillfully chipping the ball over Monaco’s goalkeeper, effectively setting the tone for what seemed to be a commanding performance by the home team. The Croatian side doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Martin Baturina unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, bringing the score to a seemingly insurmountable 2-0.

However, Monaco, who had previously triumphed over Barcelona in their opening match of the tournament, was determined to avoid defeat. Demonstrating resilience, Mohammed Salisu initiated the comeback by scoring a header from a corner eight minutes after Dinamo’s second goal. The team’s perseverance paid off when a penalty was awarded in the final minutes due to Maxime Bernauer conceding a foul within the penalty area.

Denis Zakaria seized the opportunity from the penalty spot, confidently dispatching the ball into the top left corner to equalize for Monaco, ensuring the French club maintained their unbeaten status in all competitions this season. As a result of this draw, Monaco now stands at four points in the group stage.

The match was marked by a flurry of yellow cards, with players including Bruno Petkovic and Stefan Ristovski from Dinamo and Breel Embolo from Monaco facing disciplinary action. Despite fierce competition, the two teams eventually shared the points, leaving Dinamo to reflect on missed opportunities as they sought redemption following a significant 9-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in their previous outing.

The result leaves both teams still contending for a place in the knockout stages of the tournament, with Monaco hopeful to leverage their momentum from the draw in their upcoming matches.