Game Day 5 has come and gone in Ligue 1 as one American scores and the others see little to no playing time.
Monaco 3 – 1 Le Havre
In a rare Yank-vs-Yank clash in Ligue 1, Folarin Balogun’s second place Monégasques hosted Emmanuel Sabbi’s Le Havre and sent the Sky and Navy back up north with no points to show for their long trip the the French Riviera. The former Arsenal man opened his account for the season, scoring his first goal in the second half after his side had re-taken the lead. Sabbi came off the bench and got to play 11 minutes before the final whistle.
The hosts came out of the starting blocks aggressively and before the clock struck 10 minutes played, they were a goal up. Jordan Teze, who just joined this summer from PSV Eindhoven, scored his first goal for his new team. After Balogun’s shot from just inside the 18 yard box took a defensive deflection, it fell to Takumi Minamino who delivered it across the face of the goal for his Dutch team mate to put into the back of the net from inches out.
The lead was short-lived because on the half-hour mark Philipp François Köhn was picking the ball out of the back of his net while Russian midfilder Daler Kuzyaev celebrated his first strike of the season.
Two minutes after the intermission Josué Casimir sprung forward and put the ball into the net but the referee was called to the screen by VAR and Madame Frappart’s decision was that the Guadeloupe striker had strayed offside. Balogun had an excellent chance at the other end minutes later but hit the side netting, on the wrong side.
On as a second half sub Ben Seghir joined the attack and in the 66 th minute put his team back in the lead with his second of the season. In the 70th minute, the game was put to bed when George Ilenikhena slotted the ball into the middle of the box for his American strike partner to blast home.
The win puts Monaco into second place, equal on points with the league leaders Marseille, but with an inferior goal difference. They will host Montpellier on Saturday night.
Notes
Kobi Henry was on the bench for Stade Reims when the hosted and secured a 1-1 draw against the French Champions, Paris St Germaine on Saturday night in Champagne country. This was the 20-year-old defender’s second time on the bench for the first team this season.
The Red and Whites currently hold down sixth place after five Ligue 1 games. Next up is a trip to take on last place Angers in the Loire valley.
Tanner Tessmann never got off the bench as his Lyon side fell at home to league leaders Marseille by a 3-2 score. The American midfielder has only clocked five minutes on the field in two appearances off the bench thus far this season.
Next up, Olympique will host Greek side Olympiakos midweek in Europa League action before returning to Ligue 1 to take on Toulouse.
Mark McKenzie was not on the team sheet when Toulouse lost on the road to Brest, 2-0. The American was sick at the teams last training session before the Sunday game, according to team’s website, so did not travel to Brittany. He is expected to return on Sunday however when the team will face Lyon.
