Balde’s late winner, Gouri’s excellent clinical display, Guilavogui’s heroics, and all the actions from African football led the headlines from Europe’s top leagues over the weekend. Catch up with all the latest top performances on this weekly football recap episode.
KEITA BALDE WINS IT AT THE DEATH
Keita Balde’s late winner helped relegated Serie A side AC Monza to a win against Udinese Calcio away from home at the Stadio Friuli. Arriving at the Stadio Friuli on the back of a fifteen-game winless run, Monza was aiming to avoid an 11th consecutive top-flight defeat away from home. Both sides put in an unconvincing performance in the opening half and went into the break on level terms.
The game sparked to life after the restart as Gianluca Caprari gave Monza a shock lead in the 52nd minute. Unwilling to go down without a fight against the league’s worst side, Udinese grabbed a 75th-minute equalizer through half-time substitute Lorenzo Lucca. Introduced in the 65th minute, Keita Balde marked his return from an injury spell with a bang. Receiving a flicked pass from Kevin Zeroli in Udinese’s 18-yard area, he controlled the ball expertly and fired the shot into the back of the net on the stroke of the 90th minute. The Senegalese striker discarded his shirt as he wheeled away in celebration, his happiness laid bare.
CISSE IMPRESSES AS DIOMANDE GETS OFF THE MARK IN LEGANES WIN
Engulfed in a tight relegation battle at the bottom of the La Liga Table, CD Leganes welcomed RCD Espanyol to the Estadio Municipal de Butarque, aiming to snatch a vital win. The hosts grabbed a much-desired opener in the 33rd minute through Seydouba Cissé. The Guinean midfielder struck decisively at the heart of Espanyol’s defence for his third La Liga goal of the season. Pressuring the Espanyol player into misplacing the ball in his 18-yard box, the ball fell to Daniel Raba, and the latter unselfishly squared the ball to Cissé for a simple tap-in.
Included in the starting XI, Ivorian teenage sensation Yan Diomande was eager to impress greatly at home. The young winger netted his maiden league goal for Leganes in the 42nd minute, applying the finishing touch to a well-worked team move. Receiving a pass from Raba on the edge of the box, he skipped past the Espanyol defender skillfully and curled the shot beyond the goalkeeper into the back of the net. A memorable moment for the youngster! The hosts took a comfortable lead into the break.
A 63rd-minute own goal by Espanyol defender Marash Kumbulla gave Leganes a safety cushion in the second half. Two late goals by Espanyol failed to switch the match’s outcome in their favour as Leganes ultimately held on for the win. The three points will prove vital in their quest to avoid relegation this season.
BETO STRIKES IN EVERTON WIN
David Moyes has been a breath of fresh air for Everton FC since he took charge as head coach in January, giving them a new lease of life in England’s top flight. Everton visited Fulham at Craven Cottage as both sides aimed to get back to winning ways.
The hosts drew first blood as Raul Jimenez opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a powerful header. The scores remained unchanged till Vitalii Mykolenko found some inspiration in the closing minutes of the first half to give Everton a lifeline. Abdoulaye Doucoure teased a pass into Mykolenko’s path and the Ukrainian fired the ball first time into the back of the net, his shot taking a deflection on the way in.
The game turned on its head after the break as Everton came out flying on all fronts. Michael Keane gave them the lead in the 70th minute with an emphatic header, and Beto put the match beyond doubt four minutes after Keane’s goal. Timing his run down the left wing to perfection, he connected perfectly with Carlos Alcaraz’s pass and powered a curling effort into the far corner. A superb effort made and finished by the towering hitman. Three points in the bag!
With his goal against Fulham, the Guinea-Bissau striker has now netted for Everton in consecutive league matches. An important win for the Merseysiders.
GUILAVOGUI SPOILS FRANKFURT’S PARTY
Relegation-threatened Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli visited Eintracht Frankfurt at the Deutsche Bank Park, aiming to avoid defeat away from home. Frankfurt needed a win to confirm their spot in the UCL next season. Things got off to a bad start for the visitors as Frankfurt netted the opener in the opening minute of the game, carving the visitors apart piece by piece.
The match was end-to-end as St. Pauli netted an equalizer in the 4th minute. Morgan Guilavogui, unable to apply a finishing touch to an over-hit pass, laid the ball off to Manolis Saliakas, and the Greek international chipped it over the goalkeeper beautifully. Guilavogui got in on the act on the stroke of the quarter-hour mark, the Guinean hitman capping off a quick counterattack sensationally. Receiving a pass on the halfway line, he left one Frankfurt player for dead silkily and burst down Frankfurt’s half. Skipping past the opposition goalkeeper and defender, he hammered an unstoppable low effort into the net. The goal was his sixth league goal of the season.
Michy Batshuayi netted an equalizer for Frankfurt in the second half, and the game finished on level terms.
GOUIRI POWERS MARSEILLE INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Le Havre AC played host to Olympique Marseille at the Stade Océane, as Marseille needed a win to confirm their spot in the Champions League next season.
Both sides failed to impress clinically in the first half, and the game remained goalless at the break.
The halftime team talks were effective, and both sides put on their finishing boots at the start of the second half as Amine Gouiri netted the opener in the 56th minute. Controlling Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s defence-splitting pass perfectly, he powered the shot into the net, beyond the goalkeeper. Senegalese frontman Issa Soumaré grabbed an equalizer for the hosts in the 66th minute as Le Havre turned defence to offence in the blink of an eye. Soumaré got on the end of Josue Casimir’s pass and poked the ball into the net to level the proceedings. Another big game, another goal for Soumaré.
Gouiri popped up in the box to complete his brace in the closing minutes of the game to all but confirm Marseille’s spot in Europe’s most prestigious club competition next season. Le Havre’s defence failed to deal with a long goal kick from Marseille, and Gouiri capitalized superbly, flicking the ball into the back of the net.
The Algerian striker has now recorded 10 goals and 3 assists across 13 appearances for Marseille this season. A superb signing for Les Olympiens!
GBOHO AND AYNAOUI NET IN STALEMATE
Toulouse FC played host to RCD Lens at the Stadium de Toulouse as both sides aimed to build on their impressive wins last time out and record consecutive league victories. Chances were few and far between in the first half, and it ended on a goalless note. Ivorian midfielder Yann Gboho opened the scoring for Toulouse two minutes after the restart. Gboho picked up the ball about 35 yards from goal following Mark McKenzie’s clearance. Sprinting goalwards, he opened up his body and curled a superb effort into the bottom corner about 20 yards from goal. A sensational effort!
The Ivorian has now found the back in consecutive Ligue 1 matches for the first time in his career in the French League.
Toulouse’s joy was short-lived as Neil El Aynaoui netted an equalizer for the hosts in the 61st minute. Unmarked in the box, the Moroccan jumped high and powered his header from Adrien Thomasson’s delightful cross into the box. Game on! The Moroccan midfielder has netted six goals for Lens this season, and he is the club’s joint-top scorer.
There was nothing to separate the two sides at full time as Lens’ European hopes faded into oblivion. Another disappointing home performance for Toulouse.
