GOAL
Adi Hutter showed faith in Folarin Balogun by keeping him in Monaco’s XI, and the American repaid that faith with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win.
- Balogun scores in Monaco win
- Assists game-winner
- Responds to penalty disasterclass
After missing two penalties in Monaco’s recent loss to Nice, Balogun retained his place in the club’s starting XI, scoring the fourth goal of a crazy 3-2 win over Marseille at the Stade Louis II.
Balogun’s goal came with his side trailing 2-1 as the American star levelled the scoreline with a fantastic finish. It was his second goal since joining the club, and certainly one of the most important of his young career as he showed he can bounce back from a major setback.
He wasn’t done, though, as Balogun then turned provider in the second half for Maghnes Akliouche, who had set up the American’s first-half goal. Akliouche gave Monaco the 3-2 lead as they went on to seal all three points from a crazy match that saw Balogun play a part in two goals.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The match was chaotic from the opening minute, with Marseille grabbing an early lead thanks to a goal from Iliman Ndiaye within the first minute. It didn’t take too much longer for Monaco to wake up, though, as Aldiouche made it 1-1 with his first of two goals in the eighth minute.
In the 18th minute, Marseille regained the lead thanks to Samuel Gigot, but Balogun’s goal four minutes later ensured that lead was short-lived.
beIN SPORTS USA on X (formerly Twitter): “The entire USA can smile! 🇺🇸 Folarin Balogun scores an amazing goal! 💪⚽Catch 🔴⚪️ Monaco vs. 🔵⚪️ Marseille LIVE NOW on beIN SPORTS 📺#ASMOM | #Ligue1 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/NdsievXpmk / X”
The entire USA can smile! 🇺🇸 Folarin Balogun scores an amazing goal! 💪⚽Catch 🔴⚪️ Monaco vs. 🔵⚪️ Marseille LIVE NOW on beIN SPORTS 📺#ASMOM | #Ligue1 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/NdsievXpmk
Finally, Akliouche earned Monaco the points with his fantastic finish in the 52nd, getting onto the end of a Balogun pass before picking out a corner on the near post.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
It was a strong performance from Balogun, who started up top alongside veteran Wissam Ben Yedder rather than as a lone striker. The two had a few good moments together, combining on one good sequence in the second half, but Balogun’s best work came alongside Akliouche, who started as an attacking midfielder.
Despite the penalty mess last time out, Balogun is looking more comfortable ad Monaco as Hutter figures out the best way to use the strikers at his disposal. This two-striker set may just be the way forward, although it feels like that will most likely change when Takumi Minamino and Alexandr Golovin return to the XI.
The Japanese international was ruled out of this match after winning Ligue 1 Player of the Month in August with three goals and three assists. Golovin, meanwhile, was suspended.
USMNT IMPACT
Balogun’s sequence was another example of why he’s exactly what the USMNT had been looking for. It wasn’t a poacher’s goal or a system goal; this was a goal where a striker simply said, “I’m going to finish this”.
It’s something the U.S. has lacked for some time: a pure striker with the ability to just go out and get goals. That was something Balogun displayed with his goal earlier this year in the Nations League, and it was hard not to notice that this one felt somewhat similar to the one set up by Gio Reyna back in the summer.
For the U.S., seeing Balogun bounce back will be fantastic news, especially with big friendlies against Ghana and Germany coming up in October.
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