23 September 2023 , 06:18
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Monaco paid the penalty on Friday night - quite literally - for new signing Folarin Balogun failing to convert from the spot.
Having signed from Arsenal for an initial fee in the region of £26million in the summer, Balogun made his home debut against Nice having twice come off the bench for his new side. And there was high expectation among Monaco fans after he got off the mark in a 2-2 draw with Lorient the previous Sunday.
His bow at the Stade Louis-II turned into a nightmare, though. Just 12 minutes in, the striker was given the perfect chance to adhere himself to the supporters when he was handed a chance from the penalty spot.
However, his effort was tame and easily saved by Nice keeper Marcin Bulka. And after the two sides went in 0-0 at the break, an opportunity soon came to make amends.
Just 10 minutes into the second half, another ex-Premier League star in Takumi Minamino was at the heart of the action as he was brought down inside the box. It gave Balogun another chance from 12 yards.
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But he was thwarted by Bulka for a second time. Monaco manager Adi Hutter soon decided he had seen enough, and the 22-year-old was hauled off for Wissam Ben Yedder.
The misses would prove to be incredibly costly. In the first minute of injury time, Jeremie Boga struck to win the game for the visitors, taking them top of Ligue 1 at the expense of the hosts.
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In the post-match celebrations, Bulka was lifted onto the shoulders of a his jubilant teammates, raising both his arms. There was stunned silence among Monaco fans though following the nightmare for their new signing.
Balogun also spent last season in France, scoring 21 goals while on loan at Reims from the Gunners. The US international will have the chance to bounce back against Marseille next weekend before facing his former side on October 7.
The Arsenal academy product signed a senior contract at the Emirates in the summer of 2020. However, he would go on to make just 10 appearances in all competitions for the North London club in three seasons, only two of which came in the Premier League.