Moses Simon, Outtara, and Minteh put up excellent performances to score spots on this weekly football recap. Read it all here!
SIMON NETS WINNER AS FAYE SEES RED
Fresh off their five-nil demolition of St Etienne, Stade Rennais FC took on FC Nantes at the Stade de la Beaujoire Louis Fonteneau, the hosts aiming to bring their ten-game winless run to an end.
Chances were few and far between, and both sides rained and were deadlocked at the break. Nantes had not picked up a win in their last four Ligue 1 fixtures against Rennes, and it seemed lady luck was shining on them as Rennes were reduced to 10 men in the additional minutes of the first half. Senegalese centre-back Mikayil Faye was shown a straight red for a poorly timed rash tackle.
The home side failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority till Moses Simon found inspiration in the closing minutes of the game and struck decisively at the heart of the opposition defender in the 89th minute.
Receiving a pass from Nicolas Pallois on the left wing, the Nigerian winger took the ball in his strides and purposefully drove at the Rennes defense. Dancing nimbly and skillfully evading multiple challenges from three Rennes defenders, he cut in onto his right foot and rifled the shot into the back of the net. A sensational solo goal from his wildest imagination! Simply breathtaking!
Rennes thought they had drawn level in the closing minutes. However, the goal was ruled out for handball following a VAR check. A tense finish to a rollercoaster match and Simon’s wonder goal was the difference between both sides at full time.
OUATTARA HEROICS SEALS LATE WIN FOR BOURNEMOUTH
Arriving at Portman Road after two consecutive league victories, AFC Bournemouth was looking to extend its winning run against the newly promoted side, Ipswich Town, in the first-ever English top-flight fixture between both sides.
The hosts took the lead through Conor Chaplin in the 20th minute. The visitors found themselves behind at the break, Chaplin’s maiden premier league goal the difference between both sides.
In a desperate bid to salvage something from the match, Andoni Iraola made a couple of attack-minded substitutions and sent on Burkina Faso winger Dango Ouattara in the 63rd minute.
His decision was rewarded handsomely as substitutes Enes Unal and Ouattara combined for the equaliser in the 87th minute. Unal turned Ouattara’s cross into the net to give the visitors a lifeline.
Provider turned goalscorer as Bournemouth snatched the winner in the game’s dying minutes. Ouattara reacted quickly to bury the rebound into the net after saving Daniel Brooks’ shot. A striker’s goal!
One goal, one assist, and the Burkinabe winger delivered the three points for his side as the visitors condemned the hosts to another defeat at home.
MINTEH AND LAMPTEY STRIKE IN BRIGHTON STALEMATE
Leicester City played host to Brighton FC at the King Power Stadium, as newly appointed coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy was aiming for a statement win at home.
Brighton was the dominant side, and their persistence paid off in the 37th minute as they grabbed the lead through Ghanaian right-back Tariq Lamptey.
Receiving a cross-field pass from Pervis Estupinan, Lamptey took a touch, cut in onto his left foot, and unleashed an outrageous curling effort into the top left corner, an unstoppable pile driver to open his premier league account for the season. Take a bow, Tariq!
His stunning effort allowed the visitors to take a well-deserved lead into the break.
Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh was introduced into the fray in the 70th minute, and he made his mark in no time. Nine minutes after his introduction, he connected with a long ball over the top from Mats Wieffer. Latching onto the ball, he displayed his nimble footwork and skillfully turned the Leicester defense inside out before placing a shot into the bottom left corner. Another Brighton goal for the highlights reel!
It seemed the three points were heading to the South Coast at that point. Unluckily for the visitors, two late goals from Jamie Vardy and Bobby De Cordova-Reid allowed the hosts to snatch a valuable point. Leicester delights, Brighton despairs.
INAKI STARS FOR BILBAO
It was a battle of fourth place against fifth place as Athletic Bilbao played host to Villarreal CF at the San Mames.
Aitor Paredes opened the scoring early on the quarter-hour mark, turning Íñigo Ruiz’s corner into the net. The visitors thought they had drawn level soon after, but their goal was ruled out in the 22nd minute for offside. The visitors pressed relentlessly for an equaliser, but the hosts stood their ground and denied them resolutely. Paredes’ lone goal was the difference between both sides at the break.
Looking to swing the match in their favour, Villarreal made a couple of substitutions at the break. However, the substitutes failed to alter the course of the game as Athletic Club doubled their lead in the 69th minute.
Following a quick break, Athletic Club went on the offensive. Oihan Sancet teased a pass into the path of Inaki Williams, who took a touch to set it up and lash it into the net—a well-taken goal by the Ghanaian winger.
Williams Sr was substituted in the 85th minute for Nico Serrano. It was a vital win as the Athletic Club claimed a fourth consecutive league victory and maintained its fourth position in the league standings.
LOOKMAN NETS THE WINNER AS ATALANTA GO TOP
Europa League Champions Atalanta BC played host to AC Milan at the Gewiss Stadium, aiming to extend their eight-match winning run in the league.
The match got off to a bright start as both sides threatened early on. The hosts grabbed the lead through Charles De Ketelaere in the 12th minute as the Belgian rose highest to turn Marten De Roon’s free-kick into the back of the net against his former club.
The visitors weren’t kept out for long as Alvaro Morata provided the equaliser ten minutes later, turning Rafael Leao’s cross into the net from close range. Atalanta was the dominant side, but the scores remained unchanged at the break.
In search of the winner, Gian Gasperini made a couple of substitutions in the 76th minute, and their relentless onslaught against Milan paid off eventually.
Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman delivered the goods once again. Popping in at the back post, he guided Sead Kolasinac’s flick-on from a corner into the net with a well-placed header—his 10th goal of the season in all competitions.
He was substituted in the 90th minute to warm applause by the home fans as Atalanta claimed a ninth consecutive victory in Serie A and climbed to the top of the standings.
ESSENDE STRIKES FOR AUGSBURG AS MARMOUSH DRAWS BLANK
All eyes were on Egyptian winger Omar Marmoush as Eintracht Frankfurt played host to FC Augsburg at the Deutsche Bank Park, aiming to put their midweek DFB Pokal disappointment behind them.
A disappointing first-half performance saw both teams go into the break goalless. The halftime team talk worked wonders as both sides came into the second half fully invigorated.
Frankfurt went ahead through French Striker Hugo Ekitike in the 55th minute, and the floodgates were opened. The visitors leveled proceedings through German forward Phillip Tietz on the stroke of the hour mark as the second half brought the much-desired entertainment.
The visitors grabbed the lead eleven minutes after their equaliser through Congolese forward Samuel Essende, as the striker capitalised on a goalkeeping howler to grab his third Bundesliga goal of the season. Kevin Trapp failed to handle Arne Maier’s shot properly, and the ball fell kindly to Essende, who applied a simple finish to turn the ball into the net.
Frankfurt turned to their bench for inspiration after the visitors took the lead. 72nd-minute substitute Can Uzun repaid his manager’s trust, grabbing a stunning equaliser for the hosts within two minutes of his introduction. The game finished on level terms, and Marmoush has now drawn a blank in back-to-back matches for Frankfurt.