Folarin Balogun returns but Monaco falls to Benfica in UCL - SBI ...
Eight weeks since his last competitive appearance, Folarin Balogun made his long-awaited return for AS Monaco.
Balogun came off the bench and played 27 minutes, but the U.S. men’s national team forward was unable to propel the Ligue 1 side past Benfica in UEFA Champions League play. Benfica rallied late to earn a 3-2 victory in France, handing Monaco its first loss of the league phase.
Eliesse Ben Seghir propelled the hosts in front after 13 minutes but Benfica would tie the match three minutes after halftime. Vangelis Pavlidis took advantage of a defensive error to tap into an empty net for a 1-1 scoreline.
Wilfried Sango was sent off for Monaco 10 minutes later, but the hosts would recapture their lead regardless. Soungoutou Magassa made it 2-1 to Monaco, giving them a second lead of the night.
However, Benfica would rally late with Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni scoring four minutes apart to propel the Portuguese club in front 3-2. Angel Di Maria, who logged 90 minutes on the night, assisted on the tying and winning goals for Benfica.
Balogun registered one shot on target, won three duels, and drew one foul in his first appearance since October 5.
Monaco will aim to rebound on Sunday against rivals Marseille.
