Rock-bottom Montpellier Hérault SC came from behind to upset AS Monaco at Stade de la Mosson, with Mousa Al-Taamari’s late brace rescuing all three points for La Paillade – ending a seven-match winless streak across all competitions in the process.
Enduring a six-match winless league run, Montpellier entered the clash as an anomaly in Europe’s top five leagues, having earned 100% of their points at home.
Yet, Monaco seemed set on ending that run inside the opening exchanges, only for Benjamin Lecomte to come big between the sticks to deny first Eliesse Ben Seghir, then Mohamed Salisu, and finally Takumi Minamino in quick succession.
Jean-Louis Gasset's men soon buckled, however, as Thilo Kehrer rose highest to meet Lamine Camara's corner delivery into the back of the net half an hour in.
Now conceding at least one goal in each of their last 24 league outings, the defensive frailties of Montpellier saw them chasing the game, with a tame effort from inside the box by Wahbi Khazri that was easily smothered by Radosław Majecki their only notable attempt before the break.
The hosts finally fought their way back 10 minutes into the second half as Al-Taamari pounced on Kassoum Ouattara's misplaced back pass, calmly rounding Majecki before slotting into an empty net to set up a thrilling final half-hour.
Having never overseen a draw in nine career meetings with Monaco, Gasset made a triple substitution past the hour mark in a bold attempt to unsettle Les Monégasques.
Then Lecomte made an exceptional one-handed save at the other end to deny Soungoutou Magassa's pinpoint header, perhaps sparking Montpellier's push for a winner.
Moments later, Al-Taamari finished off a swift counterattack with a clinical low strike from a tight angle into the near post to put Monaco on the back foot with eight minutes remaining.
Even after a pushback, Adi Hütter's Monaco could not get on level terms and were even close to conceding a third when Al-Taamari sent his strike inches over the crossbar in the final minutes.
Thus, Monaco stays winless since beating Toulouse in early December, while the bottom-placed Montpellier steals a first league win in over two months and just a third victory of this campaign.