JAKARTA - The United States striker, Folarin Balogun, only needed less than a minute to bring AS Monaco ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League playoff match on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, early morning WIB.
Just 17 minutes after the first goal, Balogun scored again to give Monaco a 2-0 lead that made it seem like the visitors' hopes of securing a win in the first leg were difficult.
Balogun's two goals put his name in the Champions League record book as the first United States player to score two goals in the knockout stages of the tournament.
However, Balogun and Monaco's joy only lasted a short time. PSG came back with extraordinary.
They scored three goals in return and maintained the score at 3-2 until the end. Two goals were scored by Desire Doue and another goal was made by Achraf Hakimi.
Monaco also lost Aleksandr Golovin after PSG's third goal due to a red card early in the second half which made them even more immersed.
"It's a positive start. If someone says we'll be 2-0 up in 20 minutes, we'll take it."
"However, it's not how you start, but how you finish. We are a little upset, but we are still alive and we have to focus on the second leg," Balogun said as quoted by ESPN.
Balogun scored the opening goal with a header taking advantage of an accurate cross from the left by Aleksandr Golovin at the Stade Louis II after just 55 seconds. He scored his second goal from the middle of the penalty area with a calm finish.
The first goal was the fastest goal ever scored by Monaco in the Champions League, while the second goal made Balogun equal Christian Pulisic's record for the most goals in a Champions League season with four goals. Pulisic achieved this record for AC Milan in the 2024/2025 season.
Balogun joins Pulisic as the only United States player in a team from Europe's top five leagues to reach 10 goals this season in all competitions.
Meanwhile, PSG are under pressure ahead of the match against Monaco after a sixth defeat this season - which saw them drop to second in the Ligue 1 standings - at the weekend caused a furore with star striker Ousmane Dembele questioning the attitude of his team-mates.
On Monday, February 16, 2026, PSG manager Luis Enrique responded to Dembele, who left the game against Monaco due to injury, by saying that the comments of his players after a bad performance were useless.
The second leg will take place next week at the Parc des Princes, with the winner advancing to the last 16.
PSG beat Brest 10-0 on aggregate in last season's playoffs. Although PSG are favourites to progress, Balogun remains convinced of a surprise.
"It would be the wrong mentality to go there thinking that the game is over."
"The most important thing is to start well. If we score the first goal, we will draw. This game is still open," said Balogun.
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