American star Folarin Balogun speaks out after Monaco’s nightmare

• Folarin Balogun had a night to remember in Monaco’s loss to Nice on Friday
• The American striker missed two penalty kicks before his team lost 1-0
• DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news

Folarin Balogun reflected on Monaco’s nightmare on Friday night, as the American striker missed two penalty kicks as his new side lost 1-0 to Nice.

To make matters worse, Nice’s goal came in the last minute of the match after their new star striker twice failed to score from a penalty kick in a French League match.

“It’s hard to turn the page on last night’s defeat,” Balogun wrote on The X Show on Saturday.

I know how important this match is for the fans and the team. I take responsibility but I failed on this occasion.

“I will always believe in myself and my focus will be on getting it right and helping us all achieve our goals!”

To make matters worse, Monaco would have moved to the top of the Ligue 1 standings if they had won, and instead currently sit in second place behind Nice.

Balogun missed his first penalty kick in the 12th minute of the match against Nice, with goalkeeper Marcin Bulka making a comfortable save.

However, things quickly went from bad to worse for Balogun when Monaco were awarded another penalty 10 minutes into the second half.

After showing courage in stepping up to the spot for a second time after having already been denied, the former Arsenal star’s bravery was not rewarded when Bulka kept the spot-kick wide again.

Balogun, 22, scored one goal in three matches for his new team after moving for $26 million to the French team last month from Arsenal, which plays in the English Premier League.

The striker also scored one goal for the United States in the recent friendly match against Oman, which his team won 4-0.

His next opportunity to make changes will come next Saturday when Monaco hosts Marseille.

Monaco coach Adi Hutter said after the match: ‘[Balogun] What unlucky tonight. It’s also very frustrating. He is a young striker and he will help us in the future.

“We will help him recover, but we win together and we lose together.”