American striker Balogun scores early and misses late penalty as Monaco wins 3-2 at Lens

Sun, Feb 25, 2024
Soccer News (AP)

PARIS (AP) - American forward Folarin Balogun scored early and missed a late penalty before his teammate Takumi Minamino reprieved him with an injury-time goal as Monaco won 3-2 at Lens on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Brice Samba saved Balogun's 82nd-minute penalty, which was awarded after Balogun was fouled in a French league thriller.

Lens rallied from 2-0 down but conceded in the second minute of stoppage time, when Minamino's fine shot from the right found the left corner.

The 22-year-old Balogun put Monaco in front in the 19th minute when he controlled a long pass with his head, beat a defender and finished coolly past Samba. It was only his fifth league goal since an offseason move from Premier League Arsenal, having netted 21 times on loan to Reims last season.

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Samba's own goal in the 30th following a speculative shot from striker Wissam Ben Yedder put Monaco in control, but Monaco's defensive lapses have been commonplace and Lens hit back through strikers Elye Wahi and Wesley Sa�d.

Monaco's win moved it provisionally up to third place ahead of Nice's home game against last-place Clermont later Sunday.

Also later, runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain hosted Rennes with league top scorer Kylian Mbappe looking to add to his 21 goals.

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