Folarin Balogun has set himself a clear challenge for Copa America.
“I think I need to enter that transition into somebody that can be relied on,” he said after Sunday’s opening USMNT win over Bolivia. “Someone that is consistent and changes games.”
So far, he is at least partly on track. The 22-year-old scored the crucial goal just before half-time which gave his team the buffer their dominance against a weak opponent deserved.
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For a centre-forward, goals are always the most important currency. But if the Monaco star wants to ensure he keeps his place in Gregg Berhalter’s line-up, with other in-form options such as Josh Sargent waiting in the wings, he needs to complete the rest of his objectives.
Primarily, Balogun has to find a level of consistency that was largely missed from an underwhelming performance at AT&T stadium, rendered less damaging for his prospects by that left-footed strike.
Before that, the former England youth international, who switched allegiance to the U.S. in May 2023, struggled to make an impact. At times he looked like a player low on confidence following a challenging first season at Monaco, where he struggled to replicate the form that earned him that move the year before at Reims.
Balogun scored 22 goals in 39 games for Reims while on loan from Arsenal, and earned a transfer worth €40million (£34.4m; $43.4m) after add-ons to one of French football’s bigger teams.
Last season, though, he faced the dual challenge of adapting to a different tactical approach compared to Reims, who played to his strengths in a counter-attacking style which utilised his pace, to a more possession-based team. Then there was the unfortunate job of trying to dislodge veteran forward Wissam Ben Yedder.
In the end, he started 19 Ligue 1 games (Ben Yedder started 26) and Balogun managed seven goals to the former France international’s 16.
The USMNT man’s return was not bad, especially for a new club, but there were moments — such as when he missed two penalties against Nice last September — which would not have helped his self-belief.
Balogun’s diffident club form did not deter Berhalter from persisting with using him, even though he had gone six USMNT games without a goal before Sunday.
In the first half, his patchy performance suggested that spell without notching was an issue. He could have opened the scoring in the first minute when he was through on goal but could not hit the target.
A rabona-style manoeuvre he attempted went badly wrong. Cue baffled looks in the USMNT dug-out.
And at other times he appeared disconnected from the USMNT’s otherwise vibrant attack, unsure where best to take up space and not always able to hold the ball up as well as his undoubted talent has previously suggested.
Only minutes before his goal, there was a moment of frustration when he couldn’t control a ball pinged into him near the six-yard box and an attack subsequently fizzled out.
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But then a gift from the gods — or rather an overly generous Bolivian backline who placidly kept their distance from Christian Pulisic as he burst on goal and slipped the ball to the equally unattended striker. Balogun’s left-footed effort was crisp and accurate, beyond an otherwise impressive shot-stopper in Guillermo Viscarra.
It was a big moment for both the team and Balogun.
“I think it was at a good moment,” he said later. “We wanted to create some security after Pulisic’s early goal. We knew that if we could get a second then it would put us in a more comfortable position.
“It allows me to build momentum.
“I won’t shy away — as a striker, when you’re in a tournament of this magnitude you just want to get that goal and build confidence. I feel I was able to do that today. It puts me in a good position mentally going forward.”
The man who assisted the striker agreed that it could be the breakthrough Balogun needs to get back on top of his game.
“He has been working really hard and pushing,” said Pulisic, who along with Weston McKennie attempted the most passes (three) to Balogun. “To get a goal like that is hopefully great for his confidence and also great for our team to have him in form.”
It did not necessarily galvanise his performance against Bolivia. After the interval, Balogun took no shots in his remaining 20 minutes before being substituted, had zero xG (expected goals), no progressive carries and just three touches, all in the middle or defensive thirds.
By comparison, the man who replaced him, Ricardo Pepi, had six shots and six touches in Bolivia’s box during a dynamic cameo that deserved a goal but saw him repeatedly denied.
But perhaps the reason Balogun started over him was the statistic which overrides all else for a centre-forward. He may have flattered to deceive for large parts of this promising opener, but when it mattered he put the ball in the net.
Balogun’s job is now to let that be a turning point and hope that Panama’s defence is as accommodating in Atlanta on Thursday.
GO DEEPER
A win, a clean sheet, but too many chances missed - USMNT need to be more ruthless
Graphics by Jeff Rueter.
(Top photo by Omar Vega via Getty Images)
