Balogun responds to penalty nightmare with ruthless goal vs. Marseille

It only took one game for the USMNT forward to bounce back from a brutal outing against Nice

After a brutal game that saw him miss not one, but two penalties, Folarin Balogun produced an ideal response.

The Monaco forward bounced back from last week’s nightmare by scoring in the first half against Marseille on Saturday, leveling the score at 2-2 in just the 23rd minute at Stade Louis II.

Maghnes Akliouche received a pass and quickly found Balogun streaking in behind the Marseiile backline. From there, the USMNT forward was ruthlessly efficient, taking just two touches before slamming an overpowering low strike that beat Pau López at his near post.

It was Balogun’s second goal in four Ligue 1 games so far this season.

Akliouche would end up as the difference-maker on the night, scoring Monaco’s other two goals as the principality side won 3-2 to move into first place in Ligue 1, at least before Sunday’s game between high-flyers Brest and Nice.

The goal was a perfect way for Balogun to put the heartbreak of last week’s 1-0 defeat to Nice behind him.

Playing in his first-ever Derby de la Côte d’Azur, the 22-year-old saw penalties on either side of halftime saved by Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bułka.

After the game, Monaco manager Adi Hütter backed the summer arrival from Arsenal, saying: “Sometimes this is football in the end. We have to help him and we will.

“In the end, we have good conversations and positive communication. In the future, he will help us a lot.”

It only took a week for Balogun to prove his manager right.

[lawrence-related id=28947,28483,29649]