African footballers were at their usual best across Europe, scoring bangers and pulling the strings. We take a look at the African stars that performed excellently over the weekend in this weekly football recap.
DIAO STARS AS COMO RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS
The bottom-placed Serie A side AC Monza played host to Como 1907 at the Stadio Brianteo as both sides aimed to return to winning ways.
Monza got off to a flying start as Portuguese forward Dany Mota netted the opener five minutes into the game. Como didn’t take too long to draw level as Jonathan Ikone combined with Assane Diao to net a 16th-minute equalizer. Receiving a pass from Diao on the right wing, Ikone cut in and unleashed a shot into the net. Game on!
The visitors went ahead through Assane Diao in the 39th minute. Reacting quickly to a blocked pass in the box, the young winger evaded the defender’s challenge deftly and released the shot into the back of the net. A quality finish beyond his years! The Senegalese youngster has been a revelation for Como since joining from Real Betis in the January transfer window, netting 6 goals across 13 league appearances. Simply excellent!
Mërgim Vojvoda added a third for the visitors six minutes into the second half, giving them clear daylight from their opponents. Despite a flurry of second-half substitutions, Monza was unable to swing the match in their favour, as Como ultimately claimed the three points.
THE IWOBI SHOW AS FULHAM OUTLASTS LIVERPOOL AT CRAVEN COTTAGE
Liverpool arrived at Craven Cottage fully aware that a win against Fulham would move them closer to the Premier League title.
Liverpool grabbed the lead through Alexis Mac Allister’s sublime solo goal in the 14th minute. Fulham didn’t waste time at the drawing level as Ryan Sessegnon capitalized on a failed Liverpool clearance to give the hosts the equaliser six minutes after the opening goal. Fulham benefitted once again from a misplaced Liverpool pass in the area. Iwobi intercepted the pass brilliantly on the edge of Liverpool’s box and unleashed the ball at goal. His shot was blocked, and the poor clearance fell to him in Liverpool’s 18-yard box. He didn’t waste the opportunity. After taking a couple of touches to set it up, he released an unstoppable thunderbolt into the net in the 32nd minute. Comeback complete!
Iwobi was at the heart of Fulham’s third goal five minutes later. A clearance from a Fulham corner fell to him outside the area, and he prodded the ball the first time into the air. Rodrigo Muniz controlled the pass perfectly, charged at the Liverpool defence, and slotted the ball calmly into the net. 8 goals and 5 assists for the Nigerian midfielder in the Premier League this season. A second-half goal by Luiz Diaz proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the Reds as Fulham ultimately held on for the win, ending the Reds’ 26-game unbeaten run and condemning them to their first away league defeat of the season.
CHUKWUEMEKA OFF THE MARK, GUIRASSY NETS IN ROUT
SC Freiburg played host to Borussia Dortmund at the Europa-Park Stadion as the visitors were looking to secure consecutive league victories.
Karim Adeyemi’s 34th-minute goal was the difference between both sides at the break. On-loan British-Nigerian midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka finally got off the mark for Dortmund, netting six minutes after the restart to double Dortmund’s lead. Dortmund intercepted the ball in their own half and launched a quick counterattack. Maximilian Beier teased a pass into Chukwuemeka’s path, and the midfielder charged at Freiburg’s defense. The young midfielder took aim from the edge of the box and lashed the ball into the back of the net, his shot taking a deflection on the way in. A beautiful way to open his account for Dortmund.
With an eye on their midweek Champions League tie against Barcelona, Serhou Guirassy was named on the bench and introduced in the 61st minute. The Guinean striker didn’t waste time in making his mark on the scoreline, netting seven minutes after his introduction. The goal was all about Chukwuemeka’s brilliance.
Julian Brandt intercepted a pass in Dortmund’s half and passed the ball to Chukwuemeka. His silky feet and dribbling skills were on full display as he danced his way through multiple challenges and left the defenders in green pastures before releasing Brandt away. Brandt unselfishly squared the ball to Guirassy for a simple finish into the empty net.
With the win all but confirmed, Carney Chukwuemeka was substituted for Felix Nmecha in the 70th minute. An impressive all-around display by the young midfielder. 70th minute substitute Jamie Gittens netted a fourth for Dortmund in the 78th minute and Maximilian Eggestein netted a consolation for Freiburg in the 78th minute. An important victory for Dortmund as they go into their UCL fixture against Barca in a confident mood.
UCHE PULLS THE STRINGS IN GETAFE WIN
Real Valladolid played host to Getafe at the José Zorrilla, the visitors aiming to achieve the double over Real Valladolid in the same La Liga season for the first time ever.
The visitors got off to a perfect start, grabbing the lead through Mauro Arambarri in the opening minute of the game. Christantus Uche flicked a headed pass into Arambarri’s path, and the Uruguayan midfielder rose highest to guide the ball into the net. Uche pulled the strings once again as Getafe doubled their lead eighteen minutes after grabbing the opener, going further ahead through Ramon Terrats.
The Spanish midfielder netted Getafe’s third in the 38th minute to put clear daylight between both sides. Uche displayed excellent playmaking skills as he teased a beautiful pass to Terrats, and the latter applied a calm finish into the net. It was Uche’s fifth assist in the league this season. The away fans were in dreamland. Uche’s beautiful flick set the tone for Terrats’ second goal in the 38th minute as they extended their lead further.
A red card to Valladolid midfielder Mario Martín in the additional minutes of the first half didn’t help their case.
With the three points in the bag, Uche was substituted in the 62nd minute for Borja Mayoral. Domingos Duarte added a fourth late on for Getafe. It was a resounding victory for the visitors as they returned to winning ways. Valladolid remains winless in eleven league games.
SIMA STRIKES IN IMPORTANT VICTORY FOR BREST
Engulfed in a fierce battle for a European qualification spot, Stade Brest played host to AS Monaco at the Stade Francis-Le Blé, aiming to emphasize their credentials.
Senegalese forward Abdallah Sima opened the scoring for Brest in the 42nd minute. A saved shot fell to Sima in the box, and the forward hit the rebound the first time on the volley, his shot benefiting from a goalkeeping howler on the way in—a well-timed occasion to net his fifth league goal for Brest. The hosts took the lead into the break.
Looking to switch things up, Monaco made a duo of substitutions at the break. The visitors found a lifeline as they were awarded a penalty for a handball. Denis Zakaria stepped up and buried it emphatically. Game on! In search of the match winner, both sides made a series of substitutions, and Brest had the last laugh as Mahdi Camara provided the winning touch in the additional minutes of the second half with a superb curling effort from 20 yards out. An important victory for the home side.
