By Toby Prince
A superb performance from Nigeria goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, ensured that Monaco could only scoop a goalless draw at home in the French league on Friday.
The Lille shot-stopper was the focal point on the night nullifying all attempts with his fine reflexes and saves.
Monaco were the better side in the first half but could not find a way past Enyeama, one of the league’s best keepers.
The 32-year-old Nigerian first denied Nabil Dirar’s effort from close range with a save to his right after 12 minutes, then pushed the ball away with a diving save from Joao Moutinho’s free kick on the stroke of halftime.
The home side struggled to break Lille’s solid defence after the interval and Enyeama was decisive again in the 77th, keeping a firm hand to stop Ricardo Carvalho’s header.
The draw took Monaco’s point tally to four, meaning they sit on top of the league, while Lille picked up their first point of the campaign.
The game was however marred by injuries to two key Monaco players, French defender Layvin Kurzawa and Portuguese midfielder Moutinho.
The pair could miss the Champions League play off clash away to Valencia on Tuesday.
“We had a good first-half and we could have scored,” Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said. “Then we were seriously disadvantaged by the injuries of Kurzawa and Moutinho. They are going to undergo further tests.”
