African footballers were in sensational form across Europe over the weekend, deciding the outcomes of matches and entertaining fans across the globe. We take a look at some standout performers across Europe’s top five leagues such as Marmoush, Bakambu, Mostafa and Wissa in the latest installment of our weekly football recap.
BAKAMBU SPARKS COMEBACK WIN
CD Leganes hosted Real Bestie at the Estádio Municipal de Butarque, the visitors aiming for a fifth consecutive La Liga victory.
The hosts took the lead in the 29th minute through Daniel Raba, and he doubled their lead in the closing minutes of the first half, giving the hosts a two-nil advantage into the break. Two goals down, Betis made a trio of substitutions in the 62nd minute, and Congolese forward Cédric Bakambu was introduced into the fray.
The changes seemingly made a difference as Betis were awarded a penalty after Bakambu was brought down in Leganes’ 18-yard box. Isco Alarcon stepped up and dispatched it clinically into the net to halve the deficit. Leganes seemingly restored their two-goal margin in the 69th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
As Betis were in need of a hero, Bakambu justified his introduction in a clinical fashion, netting an equalizer for the visitors in the 78th minute. Reacting quickly to a rebound from a saved shot, he guided the ball into the net with a diving header from close range. Bakambu came up with the goods once again, following his midweek brace to help Betis secure qualification to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.
Cucho Hernández provided the winning touch for Betis in the 82nd minute to complete the turnaround.
A remarkable comeback for the visitors as they claimed a fifth consecutive league victory and condemned the hosts to consecutive league defeats.
MARMOUSH STARS FOR CITY IN STALEMATE
Premier League Champions Manchester City played host to inform Premier League side Brighton FC at the Etihad Stadium, aiming to get their quest for a top-four finish back on track.
Brighton thought they had grabbed an early lead through Kaoru Mitoma, but VAR ruled it out for a foul in the seventh minute. Shortly after, Omar Marmoush was wiped out in Brighton’s penalty box, and The Citizens were awarded a penalty. Erling Haaland stepped up and buried the penalty clinically to give the hosts the lead in the 11th minute. Brighton wasted no time in drawing level as Pervis Estupiñán expertly curled an unstoppable free kick about 20 yards from goal into the back of the net, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot dumbfoundedly.
The action was end to end, and City grabbed the lead once again in the 39th minute through Marmoush, who was simply unstoppable. Receiving a pass from Ilkay Gündoğan about 20 yards from goal, he took two touches to control and set the ball up nicely before unleashing a powerful shot from the edge of the box into the bottom left corner, his shot hitting the upright on the way in. Back in the starting XI, back among the goals!
The second half got off to a frantic start as Brighton grabbed an equaliser once again, benefiting from Abdukodir Khusanov’s own goal. Both sides came close to netting the winner, but the spoils were ultimately shared at the end of the match.
WISSA AND MBEUMO COMBINE FOR THE BEES IN COMEBACK VICTORY
AFC Bournemouth played host to Brentford FC at the Vitality Stadium, aiming to get back to winning ways and bounce back from their recent slump in form.
The hosts grabbed the lead through a stroke of luck as Vitaly Janelt turned Milos Kerkez’s cross into his own net in the 17th minute.
Brentford wasted no time in grabbing an equaliser as their ever-reliable duo combined once again to draw them level. Congolese forward Yoane Wissa rose highest to bury Bryan Mbeumo’s inch-perfect cross from a Brentford corner into the net with a superb header.
Another goal for Wissa as he edges closer to fifty Premier League goal involvements in Brentford colours. Mbeumo has now recorded 20 G/A across 29 league appearances for The Bees this season. The entertaining opening half ended on level terms for both teams. Antoine Semenyo nearly grabbed the lead for the hosts shortly after the restart, but his powerful header cannoned off the crossbar.
Danish midfielder Christian Nørgaard provided the match-winner for Brentford in the 71st minute, and they ultimately held on for the three points. The Bees crushed the Cherries once again, recording their fifth consecutive Premier League victory away from home in the process.
ONUACHU IMPACTS FROM THE BENCH
Aiming to avoid a ninth consecutive Premier League defeat at home, Premier League bottom side Southampton FC welcomed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the St. Mary’s Stadium.
They got off to a terrible start as Jørgen Strand Larsen opened the scoring for the visitors with a well-placed header in the 19th minute. Chances were few and far between in the first half as the visitors took the lead into the break. In search of goals, Ivan Juric brought Paul Onuachu on for Mateus Fernandes at the start of the second half. The visitors wasted no time in doubling their lead as Strand Larsen grabbed his brace two minutes after the restart. It seemed like game over for the hosts at that point.
However, the hosts were unwilling to give up without a fight, and they found a lifeline through Onuachu in the 75th minute. Reacting quickly to the rebound from Tyler Dibling’s shot that crashed against the upright, he prodded the ball in from close range to halve the deficit. Game on!
His third league goal of the season would prove to be a mere consolation as the hosts failed to find an equaliser before the full-time whistle, recording their 24th defeat of the current league season. Contrasting fates for both sides as Wolves moved nine points clear of the relegation zone while Soton remained entrenched in bottom place.
MAGRI EXTENDS IMPRESSIVE GOALSCORING STREAK IN LOSS
Toulouse FC visited RC Strasbourg at the Stade de la Meinau, aiming to bounce back from their draw against AS Monaco in their last league match.
They got off to a perfect start as Cameroonian forward Frank Magri opened the scoring for the visitors in the third minute of the game. Yann Gboho’s goal-bound shot was saved by the goalie, and Magri reacted quickly to prod the rebound into the net with a simple touch. In 2 minutes and 40 seconds, his goal was the fastest goal recorded in Ligue 1 this season. He has now netted four goals in four consecutive league matches. Magri’s goal was the difference between both sides at the break, and it seemed the visitors were heading home with the three points.
The hosts had other ideas as they grabbed an equaliser through Félix Lemaréchal two minutes into the second half and found the winner through Andrey Santos seven minutes later. Comeback complete! Heartbreak for the visitors and delight for the hosts.
Despite a couple of substitutions, the visitors were unable to find an equaliser as they slumped to a defeat away from home, bringing an end to their two game winning run away from home.
MOSTAFA SNAGS THE WINNER FOR NANTES OFF THE BENCH
Following a run of two consecutive league defeats, FC Nantes played host to LOSC Lille at the Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau, aiming to snap their losing streak.
Both sides put in an unconvincing first-half performance, and the half remained goalless at the break. With the match undecided, both sides upped the tempo of their performance in the second half and made a couple of substitutions in order to swing the match in their favour. Egyptian Striker Mostafa Mohamed was brought on in the 70th minute, and he turned out to be Nantes’ hero.
A 74th-minute red card to Cameroonian centre-back Jean-Charles Castelletto for a foul on Chuba Akpom spelt woes for the home side, handing the visitors a numerical advantage. However, reality proved different. Receiving a pass on the left wing, fleet-footed Nigerian winger Moses Simon charged at the Lille’s defence and unleashed an inswinging cross into the box. Mostafa rose highest and powered the ball into the net with a pinpoint header thirteen minutes after his introduction. Super sub! His third goal off the bench for Nantes this season.
A timely occasion for the Egyptian to net his 4th league goal of the season. Simon has now equalled his goal-scoring and assist numbers from his highest-performing season in terms of goal-scoring and assist numbers. The win was Nantes’ first Ligue 1 victory against Lille in over nine years. Way to go, Mostafa!
