A pair of USMNT strikers got their first starts this season but neither Folarin Balogun nor Tim Weah could find the back of the net in Ligue 1 action.
Marseille 5 – 2 Paris FC
Tim Weah was in the starting line-up for the first time for Marseille when they welcomed Ligue 1 newcomers from the French capital to the French Riviera, and then soundly destroyed them with a five-goal onslaught. The American, who came off the bench in the season opener last weekend, put in a 63-minute shift this time.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put in a man of the match performance with a goal before and after the intermission. Mason Greenwood got the scoring underway after just 18 minutes when the former Manchester United striker slotted it into the back of the net from the penalty spot. After Aubameyang’s 24th minute net-rippler, the Parisians fought back and got themselves on the board four minutes later when Ilan Kebbal stuck.
After the intermission the Blues got their second to tie things up but 15 minutes later the Boys from Marseille re-took the lead through Aubameyang’s second. To put the game to bed, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, the former Tottenham defender added to the tally. And if that wasn’t bad enough, 18-year-old Robinio Vaz netted deep into stoppage time.
With their first win of the new season in the bag, the Olympians will head to Lyon to take on Tessmann and his side over the weekend.
Lyon 3 – 0 Metz
It was a good night for Tanner Tessmann and Olympique Lyonnaise when they hosted Metz and put the ball past their Danish keeper, Jonathan Frost Fischer on three occasions. The American winger played the full 90 minutes in the victory.
Malick Fofana got things underway after 25 minutes with the game’s first goal when he struck from the middle of the box, putting the league’s newcomers down a goal. It was the Belgian international’s first goal of the young season.
Five minutes later Lyon struck again when Corentin Tolisso slapped the ball into the back of the net after former Arsenal man Ainsley Maitland-Niles served it up on a plate for the Frenchman. The final goal came late in the game from substitute Adam Karabec, who joined Lyon from Sparta Prague in the summer.
Up next for the Olympians will be a visit from Marseille.
Toulouse 2 – 0 Brest
After a hard fought one-nil victory over Nice in the season opener, Toulouse and Mark McKenzie have thus far remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 after their two-nil win over visiting Brest. The American defender went the distance, helping keeper Guillaume Lino Restes keep another clean sheet. Frank Magri provided both goals.
After a couple of good chances at both ends, Brest were on the attack again when Mama Samba Baldé was played into the box but before he could get his shot off, McKenzie got a foot in and diverted the danger.
Although the first half brought no goals, it didn’t take long after the intermission before the score board lit up. Magri’s 52nd minute goal came when he was played forward into the box, wrong footed his defender and slid the ball just under Radosław Majecki’s arm into the Brest net.
Magri doubled the lead in the 65th minute after the Pirates defense abandoned ship and let the Cameroon attacker practically walk the ball into the goal.
With six points out of six, Le Téfécé will have their hands full when they host the French champs, Paris St Germain over the weekend.
Lille 1 – 0 Monaco
Folarin Balogun was in the starting line-up for Monaco when they travelled to the far north of France to take on OSC Lille on Sunday night. It was the Americans first appearance this season and he put in a full shift in this game that was entertaining but lacked goals. One did come however in the 91st minute when former Arsenal, Chelsea and French international, Olivier Giroud hit the back of the net for Lille for his second goal in two games.
The loss means that Monaco has collected three out of a possible six points early in the season. They’ll stay at home this coming Sunday as they host Strasbourg, who are thus far undefeated.
