After equaling Hoddle's best scoring season in Ligue 1, Balogun eyes record held by ex-Man Utd star

Folarin Balogun netted his 18th league goal of the season dramatically in Stade De Reim's 1-1 draw with Brest.

Brest took the lead through Pierre Lees-Melou in the 6th minute from an inch-perfect cross from Jeremy Le Douaron.

Balogun got his first chance in the 30th minute but saw his header kept out by the Brest goalkeeper.

Marshall Munetsi got the chance to restore parity for the home side in the 37th minute but fluffed his lines.

It was looking as if Reims were going to surrender three points until the stroke of regulation time when Reims were awarded a  penalty which was neatly converted by Balogun.

The Arsenal-reared striker has now netted 18 league goals this season, the most by an Englishman since Glenn Hoddle which the latter scored for Monaco in the 1988-1989 season.

The absolute record for goals in a single season by an Englishman is held by former Manchester United forward Frederick Kennedy, who netted nineteen goals for Racing Paris in the 1935-1936 season. 

With eight games to go, the Hale End Academy graduate will be hoping to surpass Kennedy's feat.

The goal also keeps Balogun's hope of winning the top scorer award alive as he is now one goal adrift of joint top-scorers Kylian Mbappe of PSG and Jonathan David of Lille who have 19 goals apiece.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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