Maoulida double pushes Monaco closer to UEFA knockout stage

AZ Alkmaar's forward Tarik Sektioui celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Litex during their UEFA Cup, Group D, football match in Lovech. AZ Alkmaar won 2-0.

A double from Toifilou Maoulida inspired 2004 Champions League finalists Monaco to the top of UEFA Cup group A with a 2-0 victory over Slavia Prague.

Monaco will be delighted with the result after seeing Marseille come from behind to beat them 2-1 in the league last Sunday and leave them languishing 16 points adrift of runaway leaders Lyon.

With several Monaco players out injured Maoulida took advantage of their absence to strike in the 11th minute after a difficult opening when they were lucky not to go behind.

The former Toulouse marksman then wrapped up the three points in the 71st minute with a superb individual effort attacking down the left flank then cutting in and firing a crosshot into the net.

Jean-Luc Ettori, the sporting director of Monaco, praised his side for keeping their challenge going.

"The players were very courageous especially with so many of the squad injured," said the former France goalkeeper.

The Slavia coach, Karel Jarolim, was less then happy with his defence.

"We should have been ahead early on but didn't take our chances," he moaned.

"However we really shouldn't have conceded those goals if the defence had not retreated from the Monaco forwards."

In other matches - the penultimate round of the group stage - in a battle of two former Champions League winning coaches Louis van Gaal's Dutch side AZ Alkmaar took a giant step to progressing to the next round by beating Bulgarian outfit Litex Lovech 2-0 and leapfrogged their opponents to join Middlesbrough, who are not in action this week, on seven points in Group D.

Goals by Barry van Galen and Tarik Sektioui gave van Gaal - who guided the great Ajax side of the mid 90's to Champions League glory over AC Milan in 1995 - a very valuable victory in Lovech, coached by Lupko Petrovic, who landed the Champions League with Red Star Belgrade in 1991.

However the most fireworks on the pitch was reserved for the Group B clash between Danish outfit Brondby and Spanish outfit Espanyol.

Normally a 1-1 draw between the two wouldn't raise an eyebrow of interest but no less than eight of the Spanish side were booked and one, Fredson, was given a straight red while the hosts saw two players booked with Dan Johansen sent off for a second bookable offence by Dutch referee Jan Wegereef.

The result meant both remained in contention for qualification but there may be repercussions off the pitch for Espanyol.

Group C remains tight as Italian side Sampdoria were unable to make home advantage tell and were held to a 0-0 draw by German outfit Hertha Berlin but with the consolation for both teams that they are in second and third - enough to qualify.