Jonathan Gradit own goal caps frustrating Lens finish in Monaco | OneFootball

Jonathan Gradit’s late own goal sealed a 2-1 defeat for Lens at Monaco on Friday, souring an otherwise robust display.

On a fine Vanderson cross, the defender tried to help Kyllian Antonio contain Paris Brunner, unmarked, but Antonio missed and the ball glanced off Gradit’s head for 2-1 on 84 minutes. He stayed down briefly, aware it might have denied Yannick Cahuzac a first point as RCL head coach. L'Équipe notes he was among the first to leave Louis-II without a word.

Before that, he had produced a crucial intervention around the hour to halt a Monaco runner heading for Robin Risser, and had kept the back line balanced. He is also only just back from a tibia-fibula fracture suffered in November during training.

For Cahuzac, the episode came in the flow of play, the ball brushing Gradit’s shoulder in a duel. He felt the defender made a good impact off the bench and said the substitutes underlined the squad’s togetherness.

Team-mate Michaël Cuisance underlined that no one blamed Gradit, calling the concession sad but part of football, and noting the player’s disappointment.

A difficult start to the season and a run of absences opened the door for Gradit to regain a starting spot at Le Mans in a 2-2 draw last Sunday, then to impress in Monaco before the decisive touch.

Source: L'Équipe

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