Monaco Advances in Coupe de France as U.S. Stars Shine

Monaco was anticipated to dominate lower-league Orleans in the Coupe de France on Saturday, and they did just that, achieving a 3-1 victory to advance to the Round of 16. A notable highlight for fans of the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) was the goal scored by Folarin Balogun.

Balogun opened the scoring in the 27th minute, converting a well-placed pass from Denis Zakaria. He showcased his speed and precision, managing to score with his only significant attempt of the match. This exemplifies the hallmark of a proficient striker, making the most of limited opportunities.

His performance underscores his growing impact, as he has accumulated six goal contributions in just 848 league minutes. Balogun has also netted in each of his last three Champions League outings, and with this goal in the Coupe de France, he contributes to Monaco’s quest for a trophy that has eluded them since 1991. Despite the increasing challenges as the tournament progresses, Balogun’s confidence is a promising asset for the team.

In another dramatic turn of events, Macclesfield Town achieved what many are calling the biggest upset in FA Cup history by defeating Crystal Palace, the defending champions, with a shocking 1-0 result. This marked the first time a Premier League team has fallen to a non-league side since 1909.

Amidst the chaos, Palace’s defender Richards returned to the field after a lengthy injury absence. He performed commendably, completing 87% of his passes, shooting on target, winning tackles, and making 14 clearances, indicating a strong defensive presence. However, his individual performance was overshadowed by the team’s overall embarrassment against Macclesfield.

In a further unfortunate turn of events, Ricardo Pepi suffered a broken arm, requiring surgery, which will sideline him for an estimated two to three months. This injury comes just as he had found his form, scoring 10 goals in 21 appearances. The setback is particularly disheartening given his previous struggles to regain fitness.

AC Milan faced a frustrating 1-1 draw against Fiorentina, missing a chance to level with city rivals Inter at the top of Serie A. USMNT star Christian Pulisic had a difficult game, missing several scoring opportunities before the team salvaged a late equalizer through Christopher Nkunku. Despite remaining unbeaten in 18 matches, concerns grow for Pulisic as he goes three games without a goal contribution, a situation he will aim to rectify in an upcoming match against Como.

In other notable matches, Josh Sargent opted out of Norwich’s FA Cup fixture amid transfer talks, while Cole Campbell made an impressive unofficial debut for Hoffenheim. Aidan Morris played 90 minutes in a losing effort for Middlesbrough, while Haji Wright’s Coventry fell to a late goal in their FA Cup match.

Joe Scally scored in Monchengladbach’s 4-0 victory over Augsburg, with Gio Reyna contributing off the bench. Meanwhile, Malik Tillman’s Leverkusen suffered a heavy defeat, and Brenden Aaronson played a late role for Leeds in their FA Cup win.