Match Overview
In a tumultuous match on Saturday, Folarin Balogun, a forward for the United States national team, not only found the back of the net but also received a red card, as Monaco faced a significant defeat, losing 4-1 to Lens in France’s Ligue 1.
Key Moments
Balogun opened his account with a penalty goal in the dying moments of the first half, just days after scoring his inaugural Champions League goal earlier in the week.
However, his positive contribution was overshadowed by a costly second-half infraction, as he was dismissed for a dangerous tackle on Mamadou Sangaré just before the halftime whistle.
At that point, Monaco was already trailing 3-1, with Lens having taken control through goals from Odsonne Édouard, Wesley Saïd, and Sangaré himself.
Lens and Marseille’s Performance
Saïd extended Lens’ lead early in the second half, ensuring they matched Marseille at the top of the Ligue 1 standings with 25 points, putting pressure on the injury-stricken Paris Saint-Germain, who were just a point behind and set to face Lyon on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Marseille secured a 3-0 victory over Brest, propelled by impressive performances from English players Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood. Gomes netted a stunning free kick and Greenwood converted a penalty after Igor Paixão was brought down. The veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also added to the scoreline with a late goal from a Matt O’Riley assist.
Notably, Marseille remains the only team to have defeated PSG in league play this season, as Lyon gears up for their crucial clash against PSG that could trim the gap at the top of the table.
