Lookman rediscovers his goal-scoring touch, Osimhen at his brilliant best, Ayew’s thunderbolt, and Zaroury’s stunner headline the performances from African footballers over the weekend across Europe. Read about it all in this weekly football recap episode.
AYEW NETS AS LEICESTER FINALLY GETS BACK TO WINNING WAYS
It was a battle between two relegated sides as 19th-placed Leicester City welcomed 20th-placed Southampton FC to the King Power Stadium. Leicester had lost their last nine Premier League home games without netting a goal and were aiming to avoid a tenth consecutive defeat at home.
The home side didn’t wait too long to net the opener as Jamie Vardy opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Moroccan midfielder Bilal El Khannouss drove forward on the left flank before teasing a low, inviting cross into Vardy’s path, and the English striker powered it into the net on the volley.
Leicester were awarded a free kick in the closing minutes of the first half, and Jordan Ayew stepped up. Included in the Starting XI for the first time since February, the Ghanaian striker wanted to justify his inclusion. His initial effort rebounded off the Saints’ wall and returned to his feet. Ayew’s reaction was immediate, and he hammered the shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Double delight for the Foxes! The goal was his fifth league goal this season.
Ayew was substituted for Jeremy Monga in the 70th minute, while El Khannouss came off for Boubakary Soumaré in the 84th minute. A relief for the relegated side as they finally ended their miserable home run.
WISSA AND DIALLO TRADE STRIKES IN SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER
Winless in five Premier League games, Manchester United visited Brentford FC at the Gtech Community Stadium, aiming to get back to winning ways. United, making their match-winning intent known early on, opened the scoring through Mason Mount in the 14th minute. United’s luck ran out quickly as Luke Shaw deflected the ball into the back of his own net in the 27th minute, and Kevin Schade gave the home side the lead six minutes after their equalizer. Game on!
In desperate need of inspiration, Ruben Amorim introduced Amad Diallo at the break, his first league appearance since February. United were lively after the restart, but they found themselves further behind in the 70th minute as Schade grabbed Brentford’s third, guiding Bryan Mbeumo’s cross into the back of the net with a well-placed header. Yoane Wissa netted a fourth for the hosts in the 74th minute. Mathias Jensen slipped a beautiful pass in behind United’s defence for Michael Kayode, and the young fullback unselfishly squared it to Wissa to rifle it home into an empty net. The Congolese forward has now netted a goal in four consecutive league matches for Brentford.
An unlikely comeback seemed to be on the cards for The Red Devils as Alejandro Garnacho pulled a stunning goal back in the 82nd minute, and Amad marked his return in grand style in the 95th minute. Receiving a pass from Manuel Ugarte on the right wing, he charged at the Brentford defence, skipped past the defender, and fired the ball into the net through the legs of the goalie. A lifeline for United! He is back! Perhaps, United wouldn’t be in such a precarious position in the league if he were not injured.
Brentford ultimately held on for the three points, claiming an impressive victory against The Red Devils.
OSIMHEN’S BRACE EDGES GALATASARAY CLOSER TO TURKISH LEAGUE TITLE
Victor Osimhen was at his clinical best as Galatasaray SK Sivasspor to the sword ruthlessly in their Turkish top-flight fixture.
The Turkish Champions are getting closer to accomplishing their quest of defending their Turkish League title and were fully aware that a win against Sivasspor at RAMS Park would take them closer to their goal.
The hosts got off to a flying start as Lucas Torreira gave them an early lead in the 9th minute of the game, finishing the rebound from Victor Osimhen’s saved shot. It didn’t take them long to double their lead as Osimhen found the back of the net six minutes after Torreira’s opener, the Nigerian striker reacting quickly in the box to turn the rebound into the net after Eren Elmalı’s shot cannoned off the upright. He simply can’t stop scoring! It’s all too easy for him.
It was a total rout as Barış Alper Yılmaz added a third for Gala in the 21st minute and Osimhen completed his brace in the 31st minute. Osimhen won a foul for Gala on the right wing, and Roland Sallai stepped up to take the free kick. The free kick, the control, and the finish; pure artistry! Osimhen controlled Sallai’s inch-perfect cross brilliantly in the box and applied a calm finish. The goal was his 24th goal for Gala in the league this season. He is simply too exceptional for the Turkish League.
Sivasspor pulled one back through Rey Manaj in the closing minutes of the first half, bringing an end to an entertaining half of football totally dominated by the home side. The scores remained unchanged at the full-time whistle as both sides had a goal ruled out in the second half. Osimhen’s goal in the 48th minute was ruled out for offside.
With 33 goals in all competitions for Gala already, he has now eclipsed his season best tally of 31 goals that he set during Napoli’s title-winning campaign. The win extended the Champions’ winning run to four consecutive league victories as the Turkish League title is poised to be won in Istanbul
LOOKMAN REDISCOVERS GOAL-SCORING TOUCH
With their title hopes effectively snuffed out, Atalanta BC visited AC Monza at the Stadio Brianteo, aiming to consolidate their third-place position on the Serie A table. The Europa League Champions took the lead into the break, and Charles De Ketelaere’s first-half brace was the difference between both sides. Ademola Lookman got in on the act two minutes after the restart. Mateo Retegui flicked a headed pass into Lookman’s path, and he picked the ball up in his stride. Charging at the opposition goalie, he shifted the ball onto his left foot and fired the ball into the net calmly to cap off a lightning-fast attack from the visitors.
The goal was his first goal for Atalanta in seven games. Smiles, relief, and happiness for the Nigerian winger. He set a new personal best record for league goals in a season, with 14 goals. He was substituted in the 80th minute, and Marco Brescianini added a fourth in the 88th minute for the visitors. Atalanta’s resounding victory condemned Monza to relegation. Alongside FC Barcelona, the Nerazzurri have the joint-best away record across Europe’s top five leagues this season. An important win as they maintained their firm grip on the third position.
PEPE’S SUPERB PERFORMANCE LEADS YELLOW SUBMARINES TO THE THREE POINTS IN ENTERTAINING THRILLER
Champions League hopefuls Villarreal CF played host to CA Osauna at the El Madrigal, knowing fully well that a win takes them closer to their UCL goal.
Villarreal drew first blood in the game through Ayoze Pérez in the 2nd minute of the game, and they doubled their lead in the 33rd minute with Nicolas Pepe serving as the orchestrator. The Ivorian winger’s perfectly weighted pass over the top of the defence was flicked over the goalie by Thierno Barry, sending the home fans into jubilation.
Six minutes later, Pepe was at it again as he teed Perez up for his brace. Following some fine work down the right, Pepe released a pass to an unmarked Perez at the centre of the box, and the Spaniard hammered the ball into the back of the net. A triple delightful treat for the fans. The goal gave The Yellow Submarines a safe cushion going into the break. Osasuna drew level through Rubén García in the 66th minute, and for a second, they had thoughts of springing a comeback.
However, Nicolas Pepe brutally extinguished all hopes of a comeback as the provider turned goalscorer five minutes after Osasuna’s opening goal. Alex Baena released a cross into the box following a darting run down the left, and Pepe prodded it home with a diving header from close range to put clear daylight between both sides. A man-of-the-match performance by the Ivorian winger.
The visitors notched an 81st-minute penalty goal through Aimar Oroz, but it did nothing to change the match’s outcome. The Ivorian winger’s excellent all-around display led fifth-placed Villareal to a vital win in a battle for a UCL spot next season.
MOUNIE NETS IN AUGSBURG LOSS
FC Augsburg welcomed Holstein Kiel to the WWK ARENA, aiming to keep their faint European hopes alive against the relegation-threatened side. The hosts were left flat-faced in the opening half as the visitors grabbed two unanswered first-half goals in the 25th and 40th minutes, respectively. The visitors continued their onslaught after the restart as Alexander Bernhardsson netted his second of the match to pile on Augsburg’s misery.
Both sides made a couple of second-half substitutions afterwards, and the match remained goalless till Steve Mounie found the back of the net on the stroke of the 90th minute. The striker reacted quickly in the box to poke the rebound from a saved header into the net from close range; a consolation goal of sorts for the home side. The Beninese striker is finally off the mark in the Bundesliga. A disappointing loss for Augsburg as their European hopes faded into oblivion.
ZAROURY’S WONDER GOAL SEALS THE WIN FOR LENS
Knowing fully well that their chances of securing an European qualification spot have faded away, RC Lens visited Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, aiming to finish the season on a strong note.
The visitors got off to a perfect start as Goduine Koyalipou netted the opener in the 21st minute. The Central African Republic striker was on hand to poke the ball into the net a few yards from goal after the ball ricocheted off Adrien Thomasson following a brief chaos in the box. He has been in superb form recently, notching his third goal in five league games and fourth league goal of the season. The forward is settling down to life in the French top flight nicely.
Koyalipou’s goal was the difference between the two sides at the break. The scores remained unchanged till Lyon found a lifeline in the 79th minute through Georges Mikautadze’s header after a spell of pressure on the visitors. Heartbreakingly, the home side’s joy was short-lived as the visitors responded six minutes later through 70th-minute substitute Anass Zaroury. The Moroccan winger struck emphatically at the heart of Lyon’s defence to restore Lens’ lead. Receiving a pass from Thomasson on the left flank, he drove forward briefly and, without options in the box, unleashed an unstoppable stinging effort into the top corner. A rocket of a shot!
His match winner was his maiden Ligue 1 goal for Lens since he joined from Burnley in the summer. The goal was absolutely worth the wait!
A joyous moment for the away side as they completed a league double over the hosts.
