Folarin Balogun hailed after exquisite lob as Monaco beat Marseille 2-1 | OneFootball

AS Monaco beat Marseille 2-1 on Sunday night as Folarin Balogun produced a sublime lob, his sixth goal in as many Ligue 1 games, to pull Monaco within a point of the podium and a direct Champions League place.

According to Nice-Matin, the American outpaced Egan-Riley before lifting a delicate finish beyond Geronimo Rulli from 23.2 metres, the Marseille keeper having nine metres between his back and the goal-line.

The Belgian coach, suspended and watching from the stands, applauded the audacity, saying he had told Balogun to try from that angle and said it was magnificent and timely.

Team-mates teased the striker after full-time. Lamine Camara said the squad trust him to score at any moment and told him it ranked among the best goals he has seen in his career.

Balogun called it one of his finest and said support from the coach and Kévin Mirallas, Pocognoli’s assistant for the forwards, helps him perform. He added he would be even happier at the end of the season if Monaco reach the Champions League.

Amine Gouiri, disappointed by the loss, offered brief congratulations but said he was not going to applaud on the pitch.

Balogun now has 16 goals in all competitions. With six league matches left, he could match or beat the 22 he scored for Reims in 2022-2023. Only three Monaco players have managed comparable Ligue 1 streaks, Shabani Nonda and Rony Lopes hitting 12 and 9 across eight games, and Wissam Ben Yedder scoring eight in six.

Source: Nice-Matin