Lassine Sinayoko scored twice in six first-half minutes and set up the third as Paris FC beat AS Monaco 3-1 at the Stade Jean-Bouin on Sunday, lifting Liam Rosenior's side to 17 points and fourth place in Ligue 1, three points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Paris FC had not trailed for a single minute at home all season before kick-off, and Monaco never seriously threatened that record. The hosts hit the woodwork twice in a dominant first half — Pierre Lees-Melou struck the outside of the post and Sadibou Sane headed against his own bar — while Sinayoko forced Lukas Hradecky into a strong close-range save.
Sinayoko strikes twice before the break
The breakthrough came on 38 minutes. A misplaced pass from Lamine Camara on the edge of his own box gave Paris FC their opening, Ilan Kebbal recovered after slipping, and Maxime Lopez found Sinayoko unmarked to finish. Six minutes later the Malian international strode beyond Eric Dier and fired an emphatic half-volley into the bottom corner for 2-0.
Reuters noted Paris FC had hit the woodwork twice before Sinayoko scored two goals in the last seven minutes of the first half to give the hosts a handy lead at the break.
Balogun replies, Sinayoko answers
Filipe Luis sent on Folarin Balogun at half-time and the change briefly gave Monaco hope. Balogun latched onto a Vanderson ball on 65 minutes to score from close range — his first goal of the season — and had another effort on the swivel, though Kevin Trapp's goal was never under siege.
Paris FC killed the game on 74 minutes, and Sinayoko was again at the heart of it. Running in behind, he toyed with Dier, dragged him across goal, turned and found Pablo Pagis, who finished first time to restore the two-goal cushion, as detailed in the Monaco report.
It was another statement night for the 26-year-old Malian, named Man of the Match. Sinayoko had already scored a hat-trick against Marseille and a brace against Rennes this season, and his two goals on Sunday took his league tally to eight.
So what does it mean?
Paris FC, beaten at Lens earlier in the season, are now fourth on 17 points from nine games, behind Lyon only on goal difference, one point off second-placed Lille and three behind PSG, whose own title defence was underlined by the Hakimi hat-trick win at Le Havre on Friday. For a club with big ambitions, this no longer looks like a fast start — it looks like a genuine European challenge built around the league's most in-form striker.
Monaco's slide is the other story. Luis's side are now four league games without a win — two draws and two defeats — having topped Ligue 1 at the start of that run. Dier endured a nightmare return, beaten for pace on the second goal and tormented again on the third, and a return to European action this week now feels like relief rather than distraction for Monaco.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Paris FC did not fluke this. They outplayed Monaco in every duel, had the best player on the pitch in Sinayoko, and a striker who is deciding big games on his own. Rosenior's team belong in the conversation near the top of Ligue 1 — and Monaco, winless in four, are drifting out of it.
Is Sinayoko now the most dangerous striker in Ligue 1, and can Paris FC really finish in the European places this season?
