Soccer Nostalgia: Soccer Memories-Part 48, France Division I, January 18, 1986, Association Sportive de Monaco 9- Girondins de Bordeaux Football Club 0

AS Monaco hosted Girondins de Bordeaux on January 18^th, 1986, in a match that really had no bearing on the title race but was nevertheless high profile due to the recent history between the teams.

Bordeaux were double defending Champions, in fact they had won the 1984 title at the expense of Monaco, on goal difference only.

Bordeaux’s title march in 1985 had been relatively more comfortable, with Monaco making a late surge to finish third.

At this point, after Matchday 26, Paris St. Germain were running away with the title.

Bordeaux and Monaco were behind with Bordeaux slightly in a better position for the European places.

Bordeaux were led by veteran Captain Alain Giresse and other Internationals like Jean Tigana, Thierry Tusseau, Patrick Battiston, and new West German signing Uwe Reinders (signed at the start of season to replace departing West German striker Dieter Muller).

The side was managed for many years by future 1998 World Cup winning Manager Aime Jacquet.

Monaco had started the season is a disappointing fashion. They had been unable to use the momentum of the previous season to challenge for the title.

They were just below the UEFA Cup qualification places.

Lucien Muller’s side had a backbone of goalkeeper Jean-Luc Ettori and French Internationals like Bernard Genghini, Daniel Bravo and Bruno Bellone.

Ahead of this match, no one could foresee the impending disaster for Bordeaux. In fact, their defense had been relatively tight.

Bordeaux were missing veteran Bernard Lacombe and defender Leonard Specht. This was the debut season of future International Alain Roche and he deputized for Specht.

Monaco were missing Bellone and the injured Argentine defender Juan Simon. Felix Lacuesta had been signed in the new year from Bastia, and he would start in this match and immediately make an impact.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

Lacuesta scored after just 29 seconds to put Bordeaux under pressure from the start. Genghini, celebrating his 28^th Birthday, doubled the lead in the 28^th minute.

He would celebrate his birthday with four goals that day.

Despite the (2-0) result in the first half, no one could foresee the eventual result.

According to Battiston, Jacquet sensed the impending disaster and warned his players at halftime. It would be to no avail.

As soon as the second half started, Thouvenel, deflected a cross into his own net and the rout was on.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

Genghini scored with a header in the 52^nd minute and another effort in the 60^th minute.

Bravo scored with a solo effort in the 70^th minute, and then set up Genghini a few minutes later who scored with a diving header.

Philippe Anziani scored in the 78^th minute and two minutes later Bravo scored the ninth and final goal in the 80^th minute.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

It was a once in a lifetime result that no one could have predicted. Bordeaux had not been as impressive as the two previous Championship winning seasons, but certainly had not looked so vulnerable.

After the match, Bordeaux’s Tusseau stated that, “it was like a dream “. Many journalists pointed out that he should have called it a nightmare.

Battiston expressed that they had prepared for this match in a normal manner. There was no excess of confidence, nor fear. He felt tactically, there were no new innovations, and everyone was ready to face a dangerous opponent.

He added that he did not want to minimize the score, but he considered it an exceptional event.

Bordeaux manager Jacquet pointed out to the many individual errors in midfield. He expressed his humiliation, but nevertheless believed that this was not the true worth of his team and was not worried about future performances like this.

He added that he might reconsider his team’s organization and pay more attention on the psychological ramifications.

On the following day, Bordeaux President Claude Bez called Jacquet to demand an explanation.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

Monaco goalkeeper Jean-Luc Ettori stated that if someone had told him that Monaco would have increased its goal-average against a team like Bordeaux, he would have thought they were crazy.

Genghini hoped this win would act as a catalyst to kickstart Monaco’s season, but it did not have the desired effect. Monaco ended the season in mid-table at ninth place.

Bordeaux would finish third in the League and somewhat salvaged their season by winning the French Cup.

For his part, Monaco Manager Lucien Muller felt Monaco’s (1-5) loss to Bordeaux, early in the season had motivated his players.

In the end, Muller summed his team’s performance that by saying that “Nothing to add, we played to perfection.”

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2805bis, January 14, 2000

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2805bis, January 14, 2000

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2805bis, January 14, 2000

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

League Standings before the match after the 26^th Matchday on January 12^th, 1986:

1-Paris St. Germain 42 points

2-Nantes 36 points

3-Bordeaux 36 points

4-RC Lens 30 points

5-Auxerre 29 points

6-Monaco 28 points

League Standings after the match after the 27^th Matchday on January 19^th, 1986:

1-Paris St. Germain 44 points

2-Nantes 36 points

3-Bordeaux 36 points

4-Monaco 30 points

5-RC Lens 30 points

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986

(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)

Date: Saturday, January 18, 1986,

Competition: France Division I, 1985/86 Season-Matchday 27

Result : Association Sportive de Monaco 9- Girondins de Bordeaux Football Club 0

Venue : Monaco-Stade Louis II

Attendance: 8,074

Referee: Michel Vautrot

Linesmen: -

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Monaco): Felix Lacuesta 1 (29 seconds), Bernard Genghini 28, 52, 60, 73, Own Goal (Jean-Christophe Thouvenel) 46, Daniel Bravo 70, 80, Philippe Anziani 78

(Bordeaux): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (1^st minute (29 seconds), Monaco): Christen’s cross from the right led to a series of headers in the box, Lacuesta finally struck in.

2:0 (28^th minute, Monaco): From the left, Bravo passed to Genghini in the middle who advanced and lobbed over Dropsy.

3:0 (46^th minute, Monaco): Christen’s cross from the right side was deflected by Thouvenel into his own net at the far post.

4:0 (52^nd minute, Monaco): Tibeuf’s corner from the left side, was headed across by Stojkovic to the near post and headed in by Genghini.

5:0 (60^th minute, Monaco): Christen’s corner from the right side, was knocked back by Battiston in the path of Genghini who sot in.

6:0 (70^th minute, Monaco): From the left side, Bravo dribbles past Thouvenel and cuts back in the middle to shoot past Dropsy.

7:0 (73^rd minute, Monaco): From the left, Bravo’s cross was headed in by Genghini.

8:0 (78^th minute, Monaco): Christen’s cross from the right was knocked in by Anziani.

9:0 (80^th minute, Monaco): After a combination play in the middle, Lacuesta sent Bravo through to score.

Lineups:

AS Monaco:

Jean-Luc Ettori, Claude Puel, Nenad Stojkovic (Yugoslavia), Dominique Bijotat, Manuel Amoros, Felix Lacuesta, Frederic Christen, Daniel Bravo, Bernard Genghini, Philippe Anziani, Youssef Fofana (Ivory Coast) (Philippe Tibeuf 31)

Coach: Lucien Muller

Booked: Felix Lacuesta 25

Team Captain: Jean-Luc Ettori

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Shirt Sponsor: Bally

Uniform Colors: Half Red, Half White divided by diagonal stripe Shirts, Red Shorts, White Socks

Note:

1-Fofana was replaced after an injury following a clash of heads with Rohr.

Bordeaux:

Dominique Dropsy, Jean-Christophe Thouvenel, Alain Roche, Patrick Battiston, Gernot Rohr (West Germany) (Laurent Lassagne 58), Rene Girard, Thierry Tusseau, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse, Marc Pascal, Uwe Reinders (West Germany)

Coach: Aime Jacquet

Team Captain: Alain Giresse

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Shirt Sponsor: OPEL

Uniform Colors: Navy Blue Shirts, White Shorts, Navy Blue Socks