Pafos 2-2 Monaco Player Ratings: Orsic Rated 8.5/10 as Dramatic Late Own Goal Sees Points Shared

What a chaotic end to a thrilling Champions League encounter. Monaco will be kicking themselves after throwing away a victory at the death. They looked certain to take all three points back to France. But a calamitous late own goal from Mohammed Salisu gifted Pafos FC a point they scarcely deserved but fought tooth and nail for.

The game at the Alphamega Stadium was an end-to-end affair right from the start. Takumi Minamino put the visitors ahead early. Pafos FC hit back through a thumping David Luiz header. Folarin Balogun then restored Monaco's lead before halftime, and it seemed like they would cruise to a win.

Football is a funny old game, isn't it? The late drama in this match proves you can never switch off. From our perspective, it was a game defined by key moments rather than sustained quality, and ultimately, a moment of misfortune decided the result.

Here are Pafos Vs Monaco Player Ratings

Monaco Player Ratings vs Pafos

Here are Monaco Player Ratings vs Pafos

Goalkeeper

Lukas Hradecky - 6.0: A mixed bag from the keeper. He conceded two goals, which is never ideal. He did make three important saves inside the box, including a very good one to deny a header from Vlad Dragomir. However his distribution felt a bit rushed, losing possession 9 times. He also had a couple of nervy moments coming for crosses.

Defenders

Vanderson - 6.5: An energetic performance down the right flank before he was substituted. He was always looking to get forward and even had a shot on target saved. Defensively, he was solid enough winning four of his six duels. We did notice he missed a big chance though, which slightly mars his rating.

J. Teze - 7.0: A really solid and composed display at the heart of the defence. What stood out to us was his impressive 92% pass accuracy, keeping things ticking over from the back. He made six clearances and won both of his duels. He wasn't spectacular, but he was incredibly reliable throughout the 90 minutes.

Mohammed Salisu - 5.5: This is a tough one. For 87 minutes, he was an absolute giant. He won 9 aerial duels, made a staggering 12 clearances and even had a clearance off the line. But then, the own goal. A moment of pure misfortune that cost his team two points. It's heartbreaking but it completely defines his performance, unfortunately dragging his rating way down.

Caio Henrique - 7.5: An excellent all-round display from the left-back. He was a machine defensively, winning an incredible 12 out of 15 duels and making seven tackles. He was a constant thorn in Pafos' side. Going forward, he created two chances and was a reliable outlet. A proper warrior's performance.

Midfielders

Denis Zakaria - 7.5: The captain led by example in the middle of the park. His reading of the game was outstanding, evidenced by his seven interceptions. He was everywhere, breaking up play and protecting his backline. His one error leading to a shot was a minor blemish on an otherwise dominant and commanding performance.

Aleksandr Golovin - 5.5: A frustrating night for the creative midfielder. He looked busy but his final product was seriously lacking, and he committed four fouls, picking up a deserved yellow card. From our perspective, he just couldn't get into his rhythm and was rightly substituted after an ineffective 66 minutes. A performance to forget.

Maghnes Akliouche - 8.0: Monaco's brightest spark and most dangerous attacker. He was a livewire all evening. His assist for Balogun's goal was a moment of pure class, and he created another big chance as well. He completed five dribbles, dancing past defenders with ease. A truly exciting performance from the youngster.

Lamine Camara - 6.0: Had a pretty average game before being taken off. He got booked early on which seemed to make him a bit more cautious. He moved the ball well with 91% pass accuracy but failed to really impose himself on the match. A standard, if unspectacular, shift.

Takumi Minamino - 7.5: Got the visitors off to a perfect start with a well-taken goal in the 5th minute. He was a constant threat in and around the box during his time on the pitch. He faded slightly as the game wore on, but his goal was a crucial contribution. A good, effective performance.

Forwards

Folarin Balogun - 7.5: He led the line with purpose and took his goal with the confidence of a top striker. He was a real handful for the Pafos defenders throughout. He will be disappointed to have missed a big chance that could have put the game to bed. Overall though, a strong centre-forward display.

Substitutes

Lucas Michal - 6.0: Came on for Golovin but didn't offer much more. Mamadou Coulibaly - 6.0: Added some fresh legs in midfield. Thilo Kehrer - N/A: Not on long enough to rate. Ansu Fati - N/A: Not on long enough to rate. Mika Biereth - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

S. Pocognoli - 6.0: His team played some excellent attacking football and scored two good goals. However, they looked vulnerable at the back and couldn't manage the game to see out the win. The late collapse reflects poorly on the team's organisation, and he has to take some responsibility for that.

Pafos Player Ratings vs Monaco

Here are Pafos Player Ratings vs Monaco

Goalkeeper

Neofytos Michail - 5.0: A really tough evening for the Pafos keeper. His error leading to a goal was a shocking moment and put his team on the back foot immediately. He did make four saves, but the mistake was a major one. He looked short on confidence after that.

Defenders

David Luiz - 8.0: A vintage performance. He rolled back the years with a commanding display. He scored a fantastic, powerful header to equalize and was a rock at the back, making six clearances. He led by example, even if he did pick up a late yellow card. A true warrior's effort.

David Goldar - 4.5: A disastrous 45 minutes for the captain. He struggled badly against the movement of Monaco's attack, picked up a yellow card, and was ultimately substituted at halftime. It just wasn't his night, a performance he'll want to move on from quickly.

Bruno - 7.0: A tireless worker on the flank. He was involved in everything, winning 10 duels and recovering the ball 10 times. His end product wasn't always there, but his work rate and commitment were second to none. A bit reckless with his five fouls, however.

Derrick Luckassen - 5.5: A very busy night for the defender, but one he struggled through. He was often stretched by Monaco's forwards and lost some key duels. He made a high volume of clearances but looked uncomfortable for large parts of the game.

Midfielders

Domingos Quina - 5.0: The game completely passed him by. He was a passenger in midfield before being substituted early in the second half. He only had 26 touches and lost possession 7 times. A very anonymous and ineffective display.

Mislav Orsic - 8.5: Simply outstanding. From our perspective, he was the best player on the pitch. He was the creative hub for Pafos, creating five chances and providing the crucial assist for the late equalizer. His delivery from set-pieces and open play was a constant threat. A masterful Man of the Match performance.

Ivan Sunjic - 5.5: Another midfielder who struggled to make a real impact. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork but made an error leading to a shot and offered little defensively. In a frantic game, he was a bit too quiet.

Vlad Dragomir - 6.5: Looked quite lively during his time on the pitch. He created two chances and forced a good save with a header. He worked hard for the team but lacked that bit of quality to really hurt Monaco before he was subbed off.

Pêpê - 7.5: A classy and composed display at the base of midfield. He dictated the tempo for Pafos, with an 86% pass accuracy and creating three chances for his teammates. He kept his team ticking over even when they were under pressure. A very intelligent footballer.

Forwards

Anderson Silva - 5.5: A really frustrating outing for the striker. He was unlucky to hit the crossbar early on, but then he missed a big chance and just couldn't seem to get into the game. He was isolated for long spells and subbed off after 69 minutes.

Substitutes

Bruno Langa - 6.5: Came on at half-time and helped solidify the defence. Jajá - 6.0: Added a bit of energy but little else. Mons Bassouamina - 6.0: Worked hard but couldn't create much. Landry Dimata - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

J. Carcedo Mardones - 7.0: He deserves a lot of credit. His team was outplayed for large periods, but they never gave up. He made changes to try and get back into the game and was rewarded with a point, albeit through a huge slice of luck. The fighting spirit he has instilled is clear to see.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Orsic