Folarin Balogun ends post-World Cup scoring drought in Monaco’s 3-1 loss to Paris FC
On Sunday, Folarin Balogun scored Monaco’s only goal in a 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat to Paris FC, his first strike since the World Cup. The goal halted a scoring drought that stretched back to the United States’ 2-0 World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina but arrived in a losing performance for his club.
Balogun’s breakout at the World Cup was followed by a turbulent summer that included a red card in the Bosnia game and a subsequent scandal he described as “surreal.” Two days after the Bosnia match he told the media he refused to play victim and that his message focused on making sure the next generation saw, through him, “the correct way to handle things, even when you think it’s unjust.” He also ended a possible deadline-day transfer to Everton after a lengthy visit to the club’s training ground and a medical he felt was improperly handled.
Monaco were tepid in the first half against Paris FC, with Paris scoring twice just before the break and Paris Brunner sending Monaco’s only first-half shot wide. Filipe Luís introduced Balogun at half-time in place of Brunner and the American found the net in the 66th minute after a Vanderson dribble and a low cross the goalkeeper could not claim; Balogun directed the ball to the far post. Despite the finish, Monaco could not recover and conceded a 3-1 defeat.
Statistically, Balogun entered the match with a strong recent record: last season he finished fourth in Ligue 1’s goalscoring chart with 13 goals for Monaco and added another six across the Champions League and the Coupe de France. At the World Cup he scored two first-half goals in the opening rout of Paraguay, his movement led to an Australia own goal, and he netted against Bosnia, leaving him with three tournament goals; in the expanded 48-team World Cup only 10 players outscored him.
Luís has shown a preference for 20-year-old German youth international Paris Brunner, at times rewarding Brunner with starts and leaving Balogun’s opportunities limited. Monaco omitted Balogun from their UEFA Conference League squad, restricting his involvement to domestic competitions as the club prepares for life without him should a move materialise. While Brunner produced a brace against Marseille in a previous match, the manager’s selection choices have left Balogun seeking more consistent minutes.
Off the field, many expect Balogun to secure a transfer in January to the Premier League or elsewhere, and his Arsenal academy background was cited as making him an attractive option for clubs mindful of homegrown player quotas. Manchester United are reportedly one possibility and Juventus may be another, according to the reporting in this article.
A goal in a losing effort does not erase the summer’s complications, but it may be a first step in Balogun’s attempt to move on. More than scoring, increased playing time is the clear requirement; while he remains a level above national team newcomers Julian Hall and Justin Ellis in projection, the pair are starting games in MLS and scoring with regularity, and Balogun has stated his desire to reclaim first-choice status once again.