MONACO (AP) - Poland center-back Kamil Glik salvaged a 1-1 draw for Monaco against Bayer Leverkusen with a spectacular strike in the final seconds of their match in Group E of the Champions League game on Tuesday.
Glik, who joined Monaco from Torino this summer, fired home a superb half-volley from the edge of the box to level in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Monaco had offered virtually nothing throughout the game, and Mexico striker Javier Hernandez had deservedly put the visitors in front in the 75th minute.
But with 15 seconds left to play, Glik made the most of a loose ball to find the top left corner with Monaco’s first shot on target. Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno could only watch as Monaco extended its unbeaten record against the German side to five matches.
Leonardo Jardim’s team, which started its campaign with a win at Tottenham, has now four points in Group E, two more than Leverkusen.
Both teams made a cautious start to the game but Monaco’s defense quickly looked troubled by the high pressing game from the visitors.
Well-organized in midfield, Leverkusen’s players enjoyed most of the possession but failed to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Monaco vainly looked for individual moments of skill, giving the ball away too quickly to be dangerous.
Playing as a lone striker in the absence of Radamel Falcao, Valere Germain did not get enough passes from his partners to unsettle Leverkusen’s solid defense while Charles Aranguiz and Kevin Kampl marshaled the midfield to stop Monaco’s rare counterattacks.
Thomas Lemar had a good chance to put the hosts in front on the stroke of halftime but his left-foot shot from Djibril Sidibe’s cross ended just wide of Leno’s post. Set up by Kevin Volland down the left of the area, Hernandez had a good chance to give Leverkusen the lead soon afterward, but his powerful drive was saved by keeper Danijel Subasic.
Leverkusen kept the pressure up after the interval but Aranguiz saw his attempt at goal easily blocked by Subasic in the 60th minute. Hernandez finally made the breakthrough in the 75th minute after a bad clearance from the hosts.
Left completely unmarked in the box, he connected with a precise cross from Admir Mehmedi to break the deadlock with a fine header.
It was Hernandez’ 100th goal since starting his career in Europe. The former Real Madrid and United player enjoyed his first taste of European football six years ago when he joined United from Chivas Guadalajara.
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