Sunday marked a strange day for U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun in his Ligue 1 trip to Lens.
Balogun scored the opening goal in the match but also missed one penalty kick opportunity in a 3-2 road victory. The 22-year-old ended his lengthy league goal-less drought, netting his first goal since November 24 in Ligue 1. Balogun’s left-footed drive in the 19th minute boosted Monaco in front 1-0 before Takumi Minamino extended the visitors lead only 11 minutes later.
Despite a fight back from Lens through Elye Wahi and Wesley Said, Minamino’s stoppage-time winner helped Monaco move to third in the league standings. Balogun was denied on two additional occasions in the second half, as VAR waived away his goal in the 62nd minute before Brice Samba repelled Balogun’s spot-kick with seven minutes to play.
Balogun will now prepare for a tough Ligue 1 clash with Paris Saint-Germain on March 1.
In England, Chris Richards delivered his first goal for Crystal Palace. Ethan Horvath earned his first win for Cardiff City.
In Spain, Luca De La Torre assisted once in Celta Vigo’s win over Cadiz. Johnny Cardoso scored his first La Liga goal for Real Betis.
In Italy, Weston McKennie assisted twice in Juventus’ win over Frosinone but left the match with a shoulder injury.
Elsewhere, Brandon Vazquez also found the back of the net for Monterrey. Cameron Carter-Vickers returned for Celtic in a road win over Motherwell. Mark McKenzie helped Genk to three points at home. Cade Cowell scored for Chivas in a home victory over Pumas. Paxten Aaronson found the back of the net for Vitesse.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Chris Richards started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Crystal Palace’s 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday.
Antonee Robinson started and played 90 minutes in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday.
Tim Ream dressed but did not play for Fulham.
Auston Trusty started and played 90 minutes in Sheffield United’s 1-0 loss to Wolves on Sunday.
Gio Reyna came off the bench and played nine minutes in Nottingham Forest’s 4-2 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Matt Turner dressed but did not play for Nottingham Forest.
Tyler Adams is OUT (Injury) for AFC Bournemouth.
Luca Koleosho is OUT (Injury) for Burnley.
EFL Championship
Josh Sargent started and played 90 minutes in Norwich City’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Ethan Horvath started, made FIVE SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Cardiff City’s 2-1 win over Stoke City on Saturday.
Lynden Gooch came off the bench and played 45 minutes for Stoke City.
Haji Wright started and played 73 minutes in Coventry City’s 3-0 loss to Preston North End. Wright also played 45 minutes in Coventry’s 5-0 FA Cup win over Maidstone United on Monday.
Duane Holmes did not dress for Preston North End.
Reggie Cannon dressed but did not play in QPR’s 2-1 win over Rotherham United on Saturday.
Daryl Dike is OUT FOR SEASON (Achilles injury) for West Bromwich Albion.
League One
Donovan Pines started and played 90 minutes in Barnsley’s 2-1 win over Derby County on Saturday.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson and Bradford City’s scheduled match with Barrow was postponed on Saturday.
WSL
**The WSL is off until March.
Germany
Bundesliga
Lennard Maloney started and played 83 minutes in Heidenheim’s 2-2 draw with Union Berlin on Saturday.
Brenden Aaronson started and played 81 minutes for Union Berlin.
John Brooks started and played 90 minutes in Hoffenheim’s 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
Kevin Paredes started and played 90 minutes in Wolfsburg’s 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Timmy Chandler came off the bench, registered ONE ASSIST, and played one minute for Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
Joe Scally started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach’s 5-2 win over Bochum on Saturday.
Jordan Pefok started, scored ONE GOAL, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 89 minutes for Borussia Moenchengladbach.
2. Bundesliga
Julian Green started and played 90 minutes in Greuther Furth’s 2-1 win over Nuremberg on Sunday.
Johan Gomez started and played 64 minutes in Eintracht Braunschweig’s 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd started and played 90 minutes in Waldhof Mannheim’s 1-0 loss to Freiburg II on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Christian Pulisic started and played 88 minutes in AC Milan’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Sunday.
Yunus Musah came off the bench and played 11 minutes for AC Milan.
Weston McKennie started, registered TWO ASSISTS, and played 86 minutes in Juventus 3-2 win over Frosinone on Sunday.
Tim Weah came off the bench and played 28 minutes for Juventus.
Serie B
Gianluca Busio started, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 90 minutes in Venezia’s 2-1 win over Pisa on Saturday.
Tanner Tessmann started and played 90 minutes for Venezia.
Andrija Novakovich started and played 69 minutes in Lecco’s 0-0 draw with Ternana on Saturday.
Kristoffer Lund did not dress in Palermo’s 2-2 draw with Cremonese on Saturday.
Nicholas Gioacchini dressed but did not play in Como’s 1-1 draw with Parma on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Luca De La Torre started, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 90 minutes in Celta Vigo’s 2-1 win over Cadiz on Sunday.
Johnny Cardoso started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Real Betis 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Segunda Liga
Jonathan Gomez and CD Mirandes host Huesca on Monday.
Konrad De La Fuente dressed but did not play in Eibar’s 3-2 loss to Espanyol on Saturday.
France
Ligue 1
Folarin Balogun started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in AS Monaco’s 3-2 win over Lens on Sunday. Balogun also missed one penalty kick opportunity.
Emmanuel Sabbi started and played 90 minutes in Le Havre’s 2-1 loss to Stade Reims on Sunday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Sergino Dest started, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 90 minutes in PSV’s 7-1 win over PEC Zwolle on Saturday.
Malik Tillman came off the bench, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 21 minutes for PSV.
Ricardo Pepi came off the bench, scored ONE GOAL, and played 18 minutes for PSV.
Anthony Fontana dressed but did not play for PEC Zwolle.
Zach Booth started and played 90 minutes in FC Volendam’s 4-0 loss to Heerenveen on Sunday.
Paxten Aaronson started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Vitesse’s 2-1 win over Excelsior on Sunday.
Taylor Booth did not dress (Injury) in FC Utrecht’s 1-0 win over Heracles on Friday.
Eerste Divisie
Justin Che came off the bench and played 22 minutes in ADO Den Haag’s 2-2 draw with MVV on Friday.
Scotland
Premiership
Cameron Carter-Vickers came off the bench and played 29 minutes in Celtic’s 3-1 win over Motherwell on Sunday.
Dante Polvara started and played 59 minutes in Aberdeen’s 2-0 loss to Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Alex Mendez dressed but did not play in Vizela’s 3-3 draw with Estoril on Sunday.
Austria
Bundesliga
George Bello started and played 45 minutes in LASK’s 1-0 loss to Wolfsberger on Saturday.
Sebastian Soto did not dress in Austria Klagenfurt’s 2-0 win over Linz on Sunday.
Belgium
Pro League
Mark McKenzie started and played 90 minutes in Genk’s 1-0 win over Sporting Charleroi on Friday.
Bryan Reynolds, Griffin Yow started and played 90 minutes in Westerlo’s 1-0 loss to Sint-Truiden on Saturday.
Gabriel Slonina started, made SIX SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Eupen’s 2-0 loss to Cercle Brugge on Sunday.
Marlon Fossey did not dress in Standard Liege’s 2-1 loss to Union St. Gilloise on Sunday.
Croatia
1. HNL
Rokas Pukstas started and played 90 minutes in Hajduk Split’s 1-1 draw with NK Varazdin on Saturday.
Sweden
Cup
Joe Gyau did not dress in Degerfors 2-2 draw with GAIS on Saturday.
Denmark
Superliagen
Jonathan Amon came off the bench and played 26 minutes in Lyngby’s 1-0 loss to Randers on Friday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Cade Cowell started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 88 minutes in Chivas 3-1 win over Pumas on Saturday.
Brandon Vazquez came off the bench, scored ONE GOAL, and played 45 minutes in Monterrey’s 3-0 win over FC Juarez on Friday.
Sebastian Saucedo did not dress for FC Juarez on Friday.
Alex Zendejas started and played 77 minutes in Club America’s 1-0 win over Cruz Azul on Saturday.
Wow, what a weekend. I can’t remember when so many Americans have shined abroad over one weekend. Almost every American in the Bundesliga started and played most of the game and/or had a significant hand in the victory. Cardoso scored and our Spanish contingent is looking good. PSV is starting to look like an American prep team and Americans are shining in Belgium,; we are prominent in the low countries. I went back and tallied and here’s what I came up with–6 American goals in Europe first divisions and 6 assists. 2 goals in Mexico and 2 goalkeepers (1 in Championship) who made multiple saves and led their teams to wins. Plus, 10 defenders and about 9 midfielders who put in major shifts. And that is not counting the English Championship (except for the GK) or other 2nd division leagues.
Baffling how Kevin Paredes is doing good at Wolfsburg, but Ulysses Llanez is nowhere near the first team and has not shown he can contribute to the teams longterm future. Smh, just baffling wow!
Uly injured his elbow in a car accident last summer. St. Polten wanted to bring him back but then he got injured. Not really sure what happened. Kind of thought we’d at least see him for Wolfsburg II but perhaps he hasn’t recovered. Wolfsburg has gone thru some changes in their coaches so the guys that brought him in are gone.
What happened
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