USMNT's Folarin Balogun scores crucial equalizer as Monaco come from behind to beat struggling Montpellier

After a slow start to the season, the USMNT striker is starting to find form in a Monaco shirt. Balogun buried an important goal last week against Le Havre, and did the same again as the Ligue 1 title hopefuls beat Montpellier.

His goal was a classic striker's move, Balogun moving off the shoulder of the last defender, creating space, and finishing calmly under a sprawling goalkeeper. He came close to another on numerous occasions, finishing the game with seven shots and two chances created.

Balogun's uptick in form comes at a vital juncture for his USMNT hopes. Josh Sargent, who figures to compete with the former Arsenal man for the starting striker spot for the national team, has also in a rich vein of form, and picked up two assists on Saturday.

Balogun's goal was a crucial part of a dramatic comeback for the home side. After being let down by a defensive breakdown to concede first, they seemed set to drop points at home. However, Balogun's first half strike, coupled with Lamine Camara's 98th-minute winner, drew Monaco level on points with PSG atop Ligue 1.

The strike was a landmark one for Balogun. In finding the net on Saturday, he became just the fifth American in the last 40 years to score 30 goals in Europe's big five leagues. He will hope, of course, that there are many more to come.

He will have another chance to impress for his side when they take on Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday. Three points in that fixture will be crucial if the French side are to qualify for the expanded knockout phase of the competition.