PARIS (AP) — Monaco picked up Sunday where it had left off before the international break, beating southern rival Marseille 2-1 in the French league as U.S. striker Folarin Balogun scored a superb goal to strengthen host Monaco's push for a Champions League spot.
The Principality side won a seventh straight Ligue 1 game and increased its unbeaten run to 10 league matches.
The win lifted Monaco level on points with fourth-placed Marseille and just one point behind third-placed Lille.
Balogun, who has scored eight goals in his last eight games for Monaco in all competitions, made it 2-0 in the 74th minute when he finished a move sparked by goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky's clearance. The American then dribbled into the box and chipped a subtle lob into the far corner.
Aleksandr Golovin had put Monaco in front near the hour mark. Amine Gouiri pulled one back for Marseille in the 85th minute.
The visitors, who played without the suspended Mason Greenwood, pushed hard for an equalizer in the closing stages but Hradecky denied an attempt from Facundo Medina with a fine reflex save and Jordan Teze cleared an effort from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off the line.
Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist, was at the Louis II stadium and took part in a ceremonial kickoff.
Now retired, the fastest man in the world has good memories from the Monaco track, having previously won the 100 meters at the Herculis track and field meeting.
Lyon's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League were further dented after a 0-0 draw at Angers, extending its winless run in all competitions to nine matches.
Looking for a first win since mid-February, Paulo Fonseca's players were devoid of ideas in a match that offered few chances for both teams.
Lyon has a tough schedule ahead with matches against leader Paris Saint-Germain and second-placed Lens in its remaining six Ligue 1 games. The seven-time champions are currently sixth, two points behind Lille.
The top three in France qualify directly for the Champions League while the fourth-placed team goes through qualifying.
“We had to win today. The race for the Champions League is more difficult now, but we are not giving up,” Fonseca said.
On Friday, defending champion PSG increased its lead over Lens to four points by beating Toulouse 3-1. PSG has one match in hand.
Lens endured an off night on Saturday and was well beaten by northern rival Lille 3-0.
Lorient was unable to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a win after being held 1-1 at home by Paris FC. Bamba Dieng put the hosts in the lead with his eighth Ligue 1 goal this season. Marshall Munetsi equalized in the 74th.
Le Havre and Auxerre drew 1-1.
Last-placed Metz and last-but-one Nantes drew 0-0.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Unites States' Folarin Balogun speaks during a news conference before the men's national soccer team training, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Marietta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ronald Blum
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Graham Platner was met by an enthusiastic and supportive crowd Sunday at a town hall-style event in Maine as the Democrat looks to advance his Senate campaign after reports about his past treatment of women just days before the state's crucial primary.
The Democratic primary is still seen as Platner's to win, but he is facing questions about his past that could make it difficult to defeat longtime incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
“We’re going to win on Tuesday and we’re going to win in November and we’re going to take power back for the people in this country,” Platner said to about 400 people clapping and cheering him on in Portland.
The New York Times on Thursday reported an ex-girlfriend's allegations that Platner repeatedly grabbed her by the shoulders during arguments and once twisted her arm behind her back and locked her in a room. Platner has repeatedly called those allegations of violence untrue.
Other Platner ex-girlfriends interviewed by the Times described positive experiences, while some said he was volatile and insulting. That story came days after news reports revealing that Platner had exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married.
Despite the allegations, no major Democrats who had previously endorsed Platner have rescinded their support.
And at Sunday's event, attendees avoided asking about Platner's past and instead asked him about the U.S. Supreme Court, what committees he would want to work on once in the Senate, and whether he supports a federal wealth tax.
“What has blown my mind is that everybody knows what’s going on,” Platner said in response to a question about what outsiders watching the Maine Senate race are getting wrong about the state's voters.
Platner said he hoped eventually to join the Senate Appropriations Committee, as well as the committees overseeing agriculture and health care, while mentioning he would like to work with Kentucky's Republican Sen. Rand Paul because of his foreign policy positions.
Platner took a swipe at Sen. John Fetterman, who has criticized the Senate candidate recently, calling him a “creep” and likening him to a “Nazi sympathizer.” Some have questioned whether Platner would be similar to Fetterman, who has a reputation for speaking and voting against his party,
Platner said as a senator it’s important to build relationships and that ” you can’t just go down there and be John Fetterman," while also calling the Pennsylvania Democrat an expletive. He added that Fetterman “said mean things” about him recently.
Platner held a rally with California Rep. Ro Khanna in Bar Harbor on Friday, where he received a standing ovation and declared that Mainers “have my back.”
A combat veteran, Platner has repeatedly said that he struggled with alcohol and post traumatic stress disorder after his military service, but says he is a changed man.
The latest news has deepened some Democrats’ nervousness about Platner, who already faced scrutiny over online posts that were dismissive of sexual assault and a skull tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol. Platner has apologized for the posts and covered up the tattoo., saying he didn't realize its significance when he got it.
Rahm Emanuel, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate who spent the weekend in neighboring New Hampshire, said the “jury is still out” on whether Platner can beat Collins.
“Everybody is holding their breath whether this is the start of something or the end of something,” he said. “If it’s the end, that’s one thing. If it’s the beginning of something and we’re not done, that’s another thing.”
Kurt Fedora, 62, a mental health worker from Buxton, said he attended Sunday's event to hear Platner talk about working-class issues and fighting corruption. He said he’s unmoved by recent revelations about Platner’s history, and considers them a smear campaign by conservative opponents.
“Maybe there will be something to it, but they’re really reaching far to try to pin something on him. And it’s politics as usual,” Fedora said.
Others worried that Platner at times reminded them of President Donald Trump.
Debbi Conley, a 69-year-old retiree from Gorham, said she wanted to learn more about Platner even as she's almost certain he'll win on Tuesday, but she’s skeptical of him at the moment.
“I think people have been frustrated with Susan Collins, so they’re looking for alternatives,” Conley said. “My concerns with Graham Platner are that he’s talking about change, but sometimes it reminds me of the same talk that Trump had like ‘drain the swamp’.”
Associated Press writer Steven Sloan contributed to this report from Warren, New Hampshire. Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to an overflow crowd outside a campaign event Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to an overflow crowd outside a campaign event Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at a campaign event Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to an overflow crowd outside a campaign event Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at a campaign event Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at a campaign event Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
