Balogun's Goal and Red Card

Striker Converted a Penalty Before a Bad Challenge Saw Him Sent Off

Folarin Balogun's turbulent performance against Lens encapsulated Monaco's disastrous evening at the Louis-II, where the U.S. international scored from the penalty spot before his reckless challenge right before halftime left his team decimated in a crushing 4-1 defeat.

The American striker initially provided hope when he converted a VAR-awarded penalty to level the match at 1-1 in the 37th minute, just days after netting his first Champions League goal. However, his evening unraveled spectacularly when he received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle, in which he stepped on Mamadou Sangaré's ankle in the 45th minute, epitomizing what the French media described as Monaco's "chronic indiscipline."

Playing with ten men proved catastrophic for the hosts. Sangaré punished Balogun's dismissal immediately, scoring before halftime to make it 3-1. Wesley Saïd added his second goal in the 60th minute, completing the rout as Monaco's defense collapsed under Lens's clinical transitions.

The loss dropped Monaco to a concerning position, having collected just two points from their last three matches—a worrying trend for a team already depleted by injuries to Paul Pogba and Vanderson, among others. The defeat sent Lens surging to the Ligue 1 summit alongside Marseille on 25 points, highlighting the gulf in composure between the two sides.

For Balogun, the timing couldn't be worse. Named to the U.S. roster for the upcoming November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay just days before, he now faces questions about his temperament heading into crucial international fixtures. While his penalty showed his goal-scoring instincts remain sharp, the red card demonstrated a lack of discipline, though the challenge seemed innocuous in the run of play.

Monaco coach Sébastien Pocognoli faces an attitude crisis that transcends personnel issues. At the same time, Balogun must channel his evident quality more responsibly as the Americans prepare for their first matches since his recent call-up to the national team.