Match Report: Metz 2-5 Monaco, Folarin Balogun hits brace in 7-goal thriller | OneFootball

AS Monaco move up to second place following a seven-goal thriller at Stade Saint-Symphorien thanks to a brace from Folarin Balogun and goals from Vanderson, Akliouche, and Minamino

Monaco and Metz met at the Stade Saint-Symphorien in a match which had high stakes at both ends of the table, especially with Les Grénats perilously fighting for survival.

It would be a disaster start for the home side as Monaco's Eliesse Ben Seghir was allowed to receive the ball in the box and serve an inch-perfect pass to Tukumi Minamino who buried his shot on the swivel past Oukidja (4'). An ideal first five minutes or Les Monégasques with Minamino adding to his tally of 6 goals so far this season.

Maghnes Akliouche then doubled ASM's lead within the first ten minutes, as the France U21 international broke freely into Metz's half in a two-on-one situation and simply slotted past the goalkeeper (10'). Metz almost instantly responded as Georges Mikautadze found himself one-on-one on goal, but Majecki saved well to hold Monaco's two-goal advantage.Two then quickly became three, as Vanderson met Golovin's precise cross with a low volley past a helpless Oukidja (16'). The rest of the half saw Monaco manage the game well, as Metz scrambled chaotically to regroup themselves.

It would go from bad to worse for FCM, despite a positive showing at the start of the second half. Oukidja's attempt to pass out the back rebounded off Folarin Balogun for Monaco's fourth of the evening (77').

Papa Amadou Diallo would pop up with a consolation goal (78'), as Monaco started to lose their focus and their iron grip on the game. A cross low from Koffe was turned in by Ibou Sané as the hosts looked to mount an unlikely come-back in the final ten minutes of the game (84').

Yet, it was Balogun who had the final say and stave off any fears for Les Monégasques as Thilo Kehrer's flicked header from a corner found the US international, who finished with ease and halted any hope of a Metz comeback. (89')