USMNT
Folarin Balogun scores for Monaco against Marseille: now top of Ligue 1
The USMNT forward got on the scoresheet to send his side to the top of the league table.
Monaco made the home advantage count in their Ligue 1 tie against Marseille, with the Stade Louis II watching on as they temporarily went top of the table in France. Folarin Balogun was the hero of the match, scoring and sparking the first signs of a comeback for his team.
The game finished 3-2 to Monaco and Balogun left the pitch in the 82 minute to a huge applause given his fantastic performance, with the USMNT international continuing to shine on European soil.
Monaco were caught sleeping and went behind in the first minute of the game after Iliman Ndiaye finished from close range. Seven minutes later, after a few failed attacks from the away side, it was Monaco who went up the other end to get the equaliser, with Akliouche smashing in at the near post after coming in from the left.
On 18 minutes, defender Samuel Gigot put Adolf Hütter’s side against the ropes when he cracked a wonderful volley into the bottom corner, connecting perfectly with an Ndiaye cross.
Balogun the hero for Monaco
It fell to Balogun to be the player to lift spirits and save the day: and he did just that. The striker took the ball on the right side of the centre channel, twisted and turned his way past the defender to create a yard of space as he crossed over the line and into the area where his right foot shot a cannon ball low and underneath Pau López in the Marseille goal.
On 52 minutes, it was Akliouche who struck again to get the eventual winner, this time with a wonderful hit of a bouncing ball that was well taken down by Balogun. The USMNT international was the key attacking figure for Monaco in their comeback victory that sent them top of the league.
Ligue 1 table as it stands:
1. Monaco | 14 points | 7 games played
2. Stade Brestois | 13 points | 6 games played
3. PSG | 12 points | 7 games played
4. Nice | 12 points | 6 games played
