Folarin Balogun was rewarded by manager Adolf Hutter with his first start of 2025 and the U.S. men’s national team forward made sure not to disappoint in the opportunity.
Balogun scored his first goal since October 5 as Monaco claimed a 3-1 Ligue 1 victory over Saint-Etienne. The 23-year-old played the full 90 minutes in the result, capping off an important road win for the club.
With Monaco clinging to a 2-1 lead, Balogun wrapped up the three points after being played into the Saint-Etienne box before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner. It marked his fourth league goal of the season.
AS Monaco sit second in Ligue 1 on 58 points and have two matches remaining this month. Should the club remain in the top-three, they will be heading to the UEFA Champions League group stage for next season.
Balogun, who has only featured six times this year, will be aiming to play a key role in final matches against Lyon and Lens.
In England, Daryl Dike scored his first West Bromwich Albion goal since January 2024. Tyler Adams and Bournemouth earned a road win over Arsenal. Catarina Macario scored Chelsea’s lone goal in a 1-0 win over Tottenham.
In Germany, Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach played out a 4-4 draw with Hoffenheim. Gio Reyna did not feature for Borussia Dortmund, despite the Black and Yellow’s lopsided win.
In France, Crystal Dunn and PSG loss to rivals Paris FC in the Coupe De Feminine Final.
In Italy, Gianluca Busio and Venezia claimed one point from their trip to Torino. Weston McKennie and Tim Weah both started in Juventus’ road draw with Bologna.
Elsewhere, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic tied rivals Rangers in a Glasgow derby. Griffin Yow continued his strong goalscoring form for Westerlo. George Bello and LASK picked up three points away from home. Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split suffered a home loss to rivals Dinamo Zagreb. Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege also suffered defeat at home.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Antonee Robinson started and played 90 minutes in Fulham’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Tyler Adams started and played 90 minutes in Bournemouth’s 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday.
Chris Richards started and played 90 minutes in Crystal Palace’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Monday.
Matt Turner dressed but did not play for Crystal Palace.
Championship
Haji Wright started and played 90 minutes in Coventry City’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Aidan Morris started and played 78 minutes for Middlesbrough.
Josh Sargent started and played 90 minutes in Norwich City’s 4-2 win over Cardiff City on Saturday.
Ethan Horvath started, made FOUR SAVES, and played 90 minutes for Cardiff City.
Brenden Aaronson started and played 79 minutes in Leeds United’s 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
Caleb Wiley started and played 78 minutes in Watford’s 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Daryl Dike started, scored ONE GOAL, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 62 minutes in West Bromwich Albion’s 5-3 win over Luton Town on Saturday.
Lynden Gooch started and played 90 minutes in Stoke City’s 0-0 draw with Derby County on Saturday.
League One
Donovan Pines did not dress in Barnsley’s 4-2 win over Reading on Saturday.
WSL
Phallon Tullis-Joyce started, made THREE SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.
Emily Fox started and played 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 4-2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday.
Catarina Macario started, scored ONE PENALTY KICK GOAL, and played 78 minutes in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
Mia Fishel started and played 56 minutes for Chelsea.
Naomi Girma came off the bench and played 27 minutes for Chelsea.
Germany
Bundesliga
Joe Scally started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach’s 4-4 draw with Hoffenheim on Saturday.
John Tolkin started and played 90 minutes in Holstein Kiel’s 3-1 win over Augsburg on Sunday.
Noahkai Banks did not dress for Augsburg.
Gio Reyna dressed but did not play in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-0 win over Wolfsburg on Saturday.
Cole Campbell did not dress for Borussia Dortmund.
Kevin Paredes did not dress for Wolfsburg.
Lennard Maloney dressed but did not play in Mainz’s 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
Timmy Chandler did not dress for Eintracht Frankfurt.
James Sands is OUT (Injury) for St. Pauli.
2. Bundesliga
Maximilian Dietz started and played 90 minutes in Greuther Furth’s 1-0 loss to Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
Julian Green started and played 87 minutes for Furth.
Damion Downs started and played 61 minutes in Cologne’s 1-1 draw with Jahn Regensburg on Saturday.
Johan Gomez came off the bench and played 12 minutes in Eintracht Braunschweig’s 2-2 draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday.
John Brooks is OUT (Injury) for Hertha Berlin.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd dressed but did not play in Waldhof Mannheim’s 4-2 win over Energie Cottbus on Sunday.
Spain
La Liga
Johnny Cardoso dressed but did not play in Real Betis 2-1 win over Espanyol on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Weston McKennie started and played 90 minutes in Juventus 1-1 draw with Bologna on Sunday.
Tim Weah started and played 86 minutes for Juventus.
Gianluca Busio started and played 82 minutes in Venezia’s 1-1 draw with Torino on Friday.
Christian Pulisic started and played 79 minutes in AC Milan’s 2-1 win over Genoa on Monday.
Yunus Musah came off the bench and played 11 minutes for AC Milan.
Serie B
Kristoffer Lund started and played 57 minutes in Palermo’s 2-1 loss to Cesena on Sunday.
Andrija Novakovich came off the bench and played 11 minutes in Bari’s 1-0 win over Pisa on Sunday.
France
Ligue 1
Folarin Balogun started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in AS Monaco’s 3-1 win over Saint-Etienne on Saturday.
Jordan Pefok started and played 65 minutes in Stade Reims’s 1-0 loss to Nice on Friday.
Tanner Tessmann came off the bench and played two minutes in Lyon’s 2-1 loss to Lens on Sunday.
Mark McKenzie is OUT (Suspension) for Toulouse.
Division 1 Feminine
Lindsey Heaps and Lyon are off until May 7.
Coupe de Feminine Final
Korbin Albert, Crystal Dunn started and played 90 minutes in PSG’s 5-4 penalty shootout loss to Paris FC on Saturday. Albert missed her penalty kick in the shootout.
Eva Gaetino dressed but did not play for PSG.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Malik Tillman started and played 89 minutes in PSV’s 4-1 win over Fortuna Sittard on Saturday.
Richie Ledezma started and played 76 minutes for PSV.
Sergino Dest came off the bench and played 14 minutes for PSV.
Taylor Booth did not dress in FC Twente’s 2-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday.
Paxten Aaronson and FC Utrecht’s scheduled match with Ajax was postponed.
Ricardo Pepi is OUT (Injury) for PSV.
Eerste Divisie
Zach Booth dressed but did not play in Excelsior’s 5-0 win over Jong PSV on Friday.
Women’s Eredivisie
Lily Yohannes dressed but did not play in Ajax’s 3-1 win over Telstar on Saturday.
Belgium
Pro League
Griffin Yow started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Westerlo’s 4-2 win over Dender on Friday.
Bryan Reynolds started and played 64 minutes for Westerlo.
Marlon Fossey started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege’s 1-0 loss to Sporting Charleroi on Sunday.
Scotland
Premiership
Cameron Carter-Vickers started and played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Rangers on Sunday.
Auston Trusty dressed but did not play for Celtic.
Jonathan Tomkinson started and played 90 minutes in Ross County’s 3-1 loss to Hearts on Saturday.
Dante Polvara came off the bench and played 35 minutes in Aberdeen’s 1-0 loss to St. Mirren on Saturday.
Austria
Bundesliga
George Bello started and played 90 minutes in LASK’s 3-1 win over WSG Tirol on Saturday.
Wales
Cup Final
Matt Olosunde did not dress in TNS’ 2-1 win over Connah’s Quay on Sunday.
Croatia
HNL
Rokas Pukstas came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Hajduk Split’s 3-1 loss to Dinamo Zagreb on Saturday.
Denmark
Superliga
Jonathan Amon dressed but did not play in Lyngby’s 0-0 draw with Viborg on Sunday.
Gavin Beavers did not dress in Brondby’s 3-0 loss to FC Kobenhaven on Sunday.
Matthew Hoppe did not dress in Sonderjyske’s 2-2 draw with Aalborg on Monday.
Norway
Eliteserien
Christian Cappis came off the bench and played 30 minutes in Viking’s 0-0 draw with Sarpsborg on Sunday.
Greece
Super League
Erik Palmer-Brown came off the bench and played 67 minutes in Panathiaikos 2-1 win over AEK Athens on Sunday.
Jonathan Gomez did not dress in PAOK Salonika’s 4-2 loss to Olympiakos on Sunday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Alex Zendejas and Club America are off until May 7.
Hers to hoping Dike stays injury free next season and bangs in loads of goals. The same for Balo. I have a feeling come next summer there will be plenty of strikers to choose from.
Erik Palmer Brown must be studied. Incredible fall off.
BVB still has games that matter.
Gio is not a starter but if BVB gets in a pinch it is possible that Gio could be useful late.
Why Gio and not , for example, Cole Campbell?
Because, scoring or creating a late goal after a late substitution has been one of Gio’s signature moves even if he has not done it in a while.
And if I’m Gio and I get into that kind of situation at this point, I’m guessing he will be highly motivated to make something good happen for BVB.
At this point, Gio getting PT is probably pretty unlikely but BVB are not risking a whole lot either way by keeping him on the bench and available.
Charlie Kelman went 75 minutes for Leyton Orient in a 4-1 win over Huddersfield, in League One. Kelman assisted on the 3rd goal. He finished as the leading scorer in League One, with 21 goals in 46 games. Leyton Orient finished in 6th place and will be in the promotion playoffs. Kelman is on loan from QPR.
Reyna is depressing me. From one of the best in Bundesliga to not getting any mins smh
They know he’s leaving so they aren’t going to play him when they could use the time to develop guys who will be there next year.
I don’t know about that. They’re one point out of a Champions League spot, with two left to play. It’s not about next year, it’s about moving up into 4th place. Reyna would be playing if the coach thought he gave them the best chance to do that, even if he is somewhere else next year.
BVB still has games that matter.
Gio is not a starter but if BVB gets in a pinch it is possible that Gio could be useful late.
Why Gio and not , for example, Cole Campbell?
Because, scoring or creating a late goal after a late substitution has been one of Gio’s signature moves even if he has not done it in a while.
And if I’m Gio and I get into that kind of situation at this point, I’m guessing he will be highly motivated to make something good happen for BVB.
At this point, Gio getting PT is probably pretty unlikely but BVB are not risking a whole lot either way by keeping him on the bench and available.
Between being scolded in Qatar by his coach and teammates were having a terrible attitude, and meddling by his helicopter parents, I wonder from afar if he’s just lost the confidence that made him such an exciting player to watch. Me think he needs a fresh change of scenery.
Whatever has gone down before, Gio has done well enough in training so that Nico is keeping him available on the bench during games in case he’s needed. BVB are just one point behind fourth place Freiburg with two games to go so I don’t see Nico doing that if he did not trust Gio to do a job for BVB off the bench if necessary.
Gio and I don’t talk so I don’t know what he’s thinking but if he can find the proper situation and do well at is new club, I see no reason why he can’t beat out Captain Jack McGlynn for a USMNT spot.
He’s 22.
If you’ve ever been 22 then you know that there is still time to fix screw ups and false starts.
Johnny99 and Vacqui: I mostly agree with what you’re saying but they aren’t going to go out of their way to get him minutes. If they need a creative player and Brandt has run out his legs they’ll put him in, but I don’t expect anymore starts like he got in early March or big minute games. He’s dresssing in case of emergency but they’d prefer not to use him. Against Hoffenheim the match was close so Gio played the last few minutes, against Wolfsburg they blew it open the last 20 minutes so they put on the teenager Duranville. Also Vac, Campbell is injured.
JR,
I don’t expect Gio to see a minute. I’m surprised they let him dress.
But the point is some people act like Gio is dead or worse, has lost all his skill and ability to play.
Given his actions, my guess, and it’s just a guess, is that Nico knows Gio is still at a level where he might be useful late in the game for any number of reasons but short of hell freezing over Gio is #18 in Nico’s game day 18.
V: it will be interesting what they do with Gio for club WC. Do they leave him off the roster or do they keep him around on the bench for 10 mins every three matches. Campbell’s injury might actually play a role in that decision. Hard to get a good read on the fitness of a player that is kind of on 3 different teams for Dortmund but kind of isn’t on any team either. Sounds like he has returned to training last week. The U19s got eliminated last weekend (Americans Mathis Albert and Tyler Meiser played in the quarterfinal loss to Bayern Munich) so he’s got a chance to at least play a few minutes for BvB II in the final weeks (who just fired their manager). Tilburg who managed the U19s and acted as caretaker for the first team will takeover so he’ll be familiar with Campbell if he’s fit enough to play.
JR,
Perhaps there is precedent for this.
Your memory may be better than mine but I seem to remember that BVB insisted on keeping CP around on loan for half the season after they sold him to Chelsea “just in case”.
And if I remember correctly CP did not do much.
This was when Sancho was still new and relevant and the latest hot thing. I’d like to think that Gio already has a deal with someone else but that’s unlikely as they probably wouldn’t want him to still be playing.
V: yes pretty much, although with CP, they had to do the deal early because Chelsea was under restrictions to not add any players do to financial fair play. So in order to get the deal done they had to do a sell and loan back instead of just waiting for the summer window. I looked it up CP had some injuries the 2nd half of his last year in Dortmund but he started their last three matches so he was playing a lot more than Reyna at the end.
Yeah, it’s really sad, especially with the flashes of brilliance he usually shows every now and then. Unfortunately, Reyna should not even be part of the National Team discussion at this point, especially with the midfield players we currently have in Top Leagues in Europe, MLS and Liga MX.