Folarin Balogun was able to brush off last weekend’s debacle as he scored a goal and provided an assist in Monaco’s come-from-behind win over Marseille.
Monaco 3-2 Marseille
Monaco was able to bounce back after conceding the lead twice as goals from Folarin Balogun and Maghnes Akliouche helped them to the win over Olympique Marseille at Stade Louis II.
Red and Whites coach Adi Hutter kept faith with Balogun and penciled him into the starting lineup. The striker did not let him down as he completed 88 percent of his passes, won four duels, and had two shots on target in 83 minutes of action.
The hosts did themselves no favors as Marseille struck within seconds of the start of the first half. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s cross from the left side found Iliman N’Diaye in the 18-yard box, and while the Senegalese forward did not make clean contact with the ball, it was enough to get it past Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Kohn.
However, Akliouche would level the score seven minutes later thanks to some help from teammate Wissam Ben Yedder as the captain took control of the ball from a throw-in and allowed the young midfielder to put a strike on target despite having four defenders around him.
The visitors retook the lead in the 18th minute when N’Diaye’s cross from the right side found Samuel Gigot who sent a spectacular volley into the back of the net.
After last weekend’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Nice when Balogun saw two penalties saved, the question was how would he respond in the next game. He did in a resounding way as he scored Monaco’s equalizer in the 23rd minute. Akliouche would send a through ball to the American who then cut to the left of his marker before firing a blistering shot past Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
Both sides pushed for more goals, but none would come as both headed to their respective dressing rooms after a thrilling first half.
Monaco then came out in the second and scored the eventual game-winner through the work of both Balogun and Akliouche. A long ball from the back found the former Arsenal player whose chest past went into the direction of the Frenchman. His shot would beat Lopez at the near post as the principality side took the lead for good.
A hard-earned win for Monaco and what a way for Balogun to bounce back as the team returned to the top of the Ligue 1 standings with 14 points, just ahead of second-place Brest on goal difference.
Note
Emmanuel Sabbi played 20 minutes as Le Havre fell in a 2-0 defeat to Lille.
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