da bet esporte： USMNT striker Folarin Balogun scored on his return to Reims as Monaco stayed top of Ligue 1 with a comfortable 3-1 win.
da cassino： Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Balogun scores on return to ReimsMonaco stay top of Ligue 1USMNT striker gets standing ovation
Balogun got USMNT fans excited with his 21-goal league campaign with Reims last season, and it appears that he has hit the ground running at Monaco
The 22-year-old scored his third goal in five appearances for his new club since a €30 million (£26m/$32m) move from Arsenal, setting Monaco on their way to a 3-1 away win that keeps them top of the pile.
GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The opening stages of the match were certainly not for the purists; both sides could barely string more than a few passes together and instead exchanged petty fouls and misplaced passes.
It was starting to look like an extremely uneventful first half would end goalless, but Ismail Jakobs tore up that script when he side-footed home a few minutes before half-time.
If Balogun played a minor role in the opening goal – his presence in the middle of the penalty area forced the Reims defenders to leave Jakobs unmarked at the back post – he was the protagonist of the second.
Play had barely restarted when the 22-year-old found himself with grass to run into on the right of the box. Youssouf Fofana slipped Balogun in on goal and he kept his cool to rifle into the roof of the net, albeit via a slight deflection.
The youngster held his hands up in apology to his former fans, but moments later he was celebrating another goal. This time strike partner Wissam Ben Yedder applied the finishing touch, heading home Jakob's dangerous cross across goal.
Reims pulled one back from the penalty spot through Teddy Teuma, but it was Balogun and Monaco who emerged victorious in northeast France.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Balogun was a revelation in France last season, scoring 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances during a season-long loan at Reims from Arsenal. Finishing fourth in the scoring charts made clubs across Europe sit up and take notice, and it was Monaco who won the race to sign him.
There were some worries about whether Balogun would be able to replicate his scoring antics at a club with greater standards, expectations and pressure, but three goals in five appearances this term seem to have put those concerns to bed.
At Monaco, Balogun has already formed a partnership with veteran marksman Ben Yedder. The 33-year-old scored his 150th Ligue 1 goal on Saturday; there are probably worse strikers Balogun could learn from.
After suffering the embarrassment of missing two penalties in a 1-0 defeat to Nice a couple of weeks ago, Balogun has shown maturity and resilience in scoring in back-to-back outings.
GettyUSMNT IMPACT
USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter will be pleased that the youngster has now started three consecutive games for his new club, and that his goal-scoring exploits at Reims last season clearly wasn't just a flash in the pan.
Balogun has started all four of the USMNT matches he has featured in since making his senior debut in June, suggesting that Berhalter sees him as his best striking option.
That the 22-year-old has found his shooting boots in Monaco is only a good thing for the national team.
GettyGOAL'S RATINGS
Folarin Balogun (7/10):
Balogun was a constant thorn in Reims' side, using his pace to lead dangerous counter-attacks and his technical ability to link up with Ben Yedder and Aleksandr Golovin.
The Arsenal academy graduate took his goal well, and would have bagged a brace had he not lost the ball under his feet moments after Reims pulled a goal back.
He did lose nine duels – more than any other player on the pitch – so that's something to work on.