From the Mbeumo X Wissa’s lethal combo to Sadiq Umar’s supersub heroics to Belkhdim’s maiden league goal, we take a look at the performance of African players in Europe over the weekend in our weekly football recap.
FANS CAN’T STOP GETTING ENTERTAINED BY THE WISSA AND MBEUMO SHOW
Following two consecutive draws, Brentford FC played host to Brighton FC at the Gtech Community Stadium, aiming to get back to winning ways at home.
Brentford got off to a perfect start as Bryan Mbeumo gave them an early lead in the 9th minute of the game.
The hosts pegged the visitors quickly on the counter as Keane Lewis-Potter released a perfectly weighted pass in behind Brighton’s defence into Mbeumo’s path. Mbeumo sprinted into Brighton’s 18-yard box before powering the ball into the bottom left corner. Get in!
Having struggled to breach Brentford’s defence, Brighton had a stroke of luck as Danny Welbeck struck decisively in the additional minutes of the first half. Both sides were deadlocked at the break. Mbeumo wasted no time in replicating his heroics from the first half after the restart as he combined with Yoane Wissa in devastating fashion to restore Brentford’s lead in the 48th minute.
A poor goal kick routine from Brighton allowed Brentford to regain possession, and Wissa was played behind the defense. The Congolese forward flicked the ball into the path of his Cameroonian counterpart, and Mbeumo curled it beautifully into the net, his shot taking a deflection on the way in. Double delight! The goal was his 18th league goal of the season!
Goalscorer turned provider as Mbeumo returned the favour, allowing Wissa to get in on the act ten minutes later. It was a quick counterattack as Mbeumo connected well with a long ball down the right before laying a pass unselfishly into Wissa’s path, and the Congolese forward smashed the ball into the net first time, his shot taking a deflection on the way in. The goal was Wissa’s 16th league goal of the season.
A red card to João Pedro derailed Brighton’s hopes for a comeback. Kaoru Mitoma netted a second for the Seagulls in the 81st minute. However, Christian Nørgaard’s 95th-minute header restored The Bees’ two-goal margin. A convincing victory for the hosts as they returned to winning ways in front of their fans.
Mbeumo has been in the form of his life this season, and he should cross the 20-goal mark before the season ends. With 18 goals, 6 assists, and 5 league games to go, he could very well hit 30G+A before the season ends. Brighton’s electric duo is the only duo across Europe’s top five leagues to be involved in 10+ league goals at home. Simply exceptional!
SADIQ UMAR STRIKES DECISIVELY TO SPARE TARREGA’S BLUSHES
Valencia CF visited Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas, aiming to extend their impressive three game winning run.
Chances were few and far between in the first half. Valencia had a few chances to open the scoring, however, they lacked a finishing touch. The hosts grabbed a much needed opener in the 45th minute of the game as Valencia centre back César Tárrega turned the ball into the back of his net, leaving his goalkeeper helpless as the ball went in.
Eager to switch the match in his team’s favour, Carlos Corberán made a couple of second half substitutions, eventually introducing Sadiq Umar in the 66th minute. Sadiq Umar turned out to be Valencia’s hero as he grabbed a 75th-minute equaliser for the visitors. The Nigerian forward showed his striker’s instincts as he reacted quickly to turn the rebound shot into the back of the net after his initial effort crashed against the upright. It was his fifth goal since joining on loan from Real Sociedad in January.
Another clutch performance from the Nigerian striker as he helped Valencia extend their unbeaten run.
ASSANE DIAO; AFRICA’S PRIDE!
Como 1907 visited relegation threatened US Lecce at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare, aiming to extend their two game winning run in the Italian top flight.
Senegalese youngster Assane Diao opened the scoring for the visitors in the 33rd minute. Nico Paz teased a sumptuous pass into Diao’s path, and the teenage sensation did justice to the pass clinically. Timing his run to perfection, he connected well with the pass, took a touch to set it up before slotting it calmly beyond the goalie. A well-taken goal!
Despite a VAR check for offside, the goal was awarded. Assane Diao’s goal was the difference between both sides at the break. With the game still open, both sides made a couple of second-half substitutions, and the scores remained unchanged till Edoardo Goldaniga doubled Como’s lead in the 84th minute. Diao struck decisively again to grab his second and Como’s third in the 91st minute. Following a well-worked team move, Gabriel Strefezza released the ball into the path of the onrushing Diao on the edge of the box, and the Senegalese winger curled it first time into the back of the net.
His eighth league goal for Como this season! Despite arriving midway through the season in January, he is Como’s highest goal scorer this season. Take a bow, Mr Diao! His brace helped Como secure a third consecutive Serie A victory for the first time since 1952. The African continent’s pride! With 9 league goals, he is the highest-scoring teenager across the top five European leagues this season.
IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE
Fresh off their bittersweet victory over FC Barcelona in their midweek UEFA Champions League fixture, Borussia Dortmund took on rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Signal Iduna Park, aiming for a strong end to an abysmal season.
The visitors opened the scoring through Ko Itakura’s slaloming run in the 24th minute. Dortmund upped the intensity of their performance in the closing minutes of the first half and grabbed an equaliser through Serhou Guirassy in the 41st minute. Carney Chukwuemeka regained possession for Dortmund about 25 yards from goal and released a pass to Pascal Gross on the right wing. The German midfielder hit an inviting low cross into the box, and Guirassy, unmarked in the box, slammed the ball into the net. A man in top form! He has formed a lethal combination with Gross this season.
It was an unbelievable turnaround for Dortmund as Felix Nmecha put them ahead three minutes later and Daniel Svensson netted a third goal in the fourth minute of additional time, nodding the rebound into the net from Guirassy’s saved shot. Three goals in eight minutes to turn the match around. There were absolute scenes of ecstasy in Dortmund! The hosts took a 3-1 lead into the break. Kevin Stöger’s 56th-minute penalty for Mönchengladbach failed to have a major impact on the match’s outcome as Dortmund held on for a vital win.
Dortmund’s relentless pursuit of a UCL spot next season is still on track. Guirassy has now netted 30+ goals across all competitions for Dortmund this season. Not bad!
El AYNAOUI NETS WINNER AS NDIAYE SEES RED
It was a battle between eight place and ninth place as Stade Brest welcomed RC Lens to the Stade Francis-Le Blé, Lens aiming to get back to winning ways and leapfrog Brest on the Ligue 1 table.
Brest were hoping to avoid a third consecutive defeat at the hands of Lens and made their intent known early in the match as they grabbed the lead through French midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou in the 13th minute, carving Lens apart bit by bit. Lens didn’t waste time in drawing level as Central African Republic footballer Goduine Koyalipou netted an equaliser four minutes after they went behind. Moroccan international Anass Zaroury curled a deep, inviting cross towards the opposition area and the towering Koyalipou rose highest to prod the ball into the net emphatically. Made and finished in Africa! It was the 25 year old attacker’s third league goal for Lens since he joined in January.
As it seemed the first half was going to end in a stalemate, Lens were awarded a penalty following a VAR review in the additional minutes of the first half. Senegalese centre back Abdoulaye Ndiaye was shown a straight red card as he was adjudged to have handled the ball following a last ditch goal saving block.
Moroccan youth international Neil El Aynaoui stepped up and buried the penalty decisively to give the visitors the lead. Extreme composure from the 23-year-old midfielder to give his side the lead. His penalty gave Lens the advantage going into the break.
Substitute Wesley Saïd provided a safety cushion for Lens with his 90tb minute goal to extinguish any faint hopes of a comeback that the hosts were nursing. Delight for Lens, anguish for Brest.
AL-ABDI NETS WINNER AS BELKHDIM GETS OFF THE MARK
OGC Nice played host to SC Angers at the Allianz Riviera, aiming to return to winning ways and get their Champions League qualification bid back on track.
Nice opened the scoring in the 36th minute through Dutch midfielder Pablo Rosari. Rosari was on hand to guide Algerian forward Badredine Bouanani’s inviting cross into the net with a simple header in front of the goal.
Rosario’s goal was the difference between the two sides at the break. Nice started the second half on the front foot as Tunisian left back Ali Al-Abdi doubled their lead in comical fashion two minutes after the restart. His initial diving header crashed against the upright, and the rebound hit his head instinctively before entering the net. Pure luck or a great reaction? It didn’t matter!
Moroccan midfielder Yassin Belkhdim pulled one back for the visitors five minutes later. The midfielder reacted quickly to a loose ball in Nice’s box following a misplaced pass, and he hit it first time into the net; his maiden goal in the French top flight for Angers.
Belkhdim’s goal was nothing more than a consolation as Nice ultimately held on for the win. It was Nice’s first victory since the beginning of March. Relief for players and fans alike as they snapped their five-game winless run.
