Arsenal loanee Balogun steals the show with first career hat-trick against Lorient 

Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun was the star of the show as Stade de Reims thrashed Innocent Bonke's Lorient 4-2 in a French Ligue 1 clash at the Stade Auguste-Delaune on Wednesday evening. 

The Hale End Academy graduate grabbed his first-ever hat-trick as a professional as Stade de Reims extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to fifteen matches.

Prior to this evening's clash, the England U21 international of Nigerian descent had not managed to score a hat-trick in his fifty one previous games as a professional. 

Reims were trailing by two goals but fought back to secure all three points thanks to the brilliance of Balogun. 

A minute before halftime, the American-born striker halved the deficit as he converted a penalty which was awarded after a VAR check confirmed a foul by Bonke. 

After Kamory Doumbia equalized for the home team, Balogun made it 3-2 with a right-footed volley from close range in the 61st minute and three minutes later secured his first hat-trick with another volley. 

His tally of three goals took his haul for the season in the Ligue 1 to fourteen and saw him overtake Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe as the leading marksman in the division.

Balogun is the third highest goalscorer in the big five European Leagues in 2022-2023 behind Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (25) and Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane (16).

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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