The European football season is back! Read this latest episode of Continent of Champions to catch up on the latest news on African football stars.
NEW SEASON, SAME OLD SALAH
Mohamed Salah has an air of inevitability surrounding him on Premier League opening match days, and in Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Ipswich Town, he struck again.
Liverpool put in a lackluster performance and struggled in the first half against the home side, but they came alive in the second half. An ingenious through ball by Trent Alexander-Arnold allowed Mohamed Salah to run in behind the opposing full-back, and he hit the ball first time into the path of Diogo Jota. The Portuguese striker grabbed the opener for the visitors on the stroke of the hour mark. Lift-off!
Five minutes later, the Egyptian winger played a quick one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai, and the latter’s pass deflected slightly into his path. Showing his clinical edge, Salah buried it into the back of the net to double the lead after assisting the opener. He had two other chances to add to his tally, but he was denied by the goalkeeper.
The season has barely started, but the Salah is up and running once again. His goal allowed him to become the record holder for Premier League opening match day goals. Salah was tied with Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Alan Shearer on eight goals, but he has now become the outright record holder.
Questions have been asked about his ability to lead Liverpool’s frontline in the post-Klopp era, but the winger has been quick to dispel those doubts. Our Egyptian king is simply evergreen.
WISSA AND MBEUMO STAR AS BRENTFORD RECORD OPENING DAY VICTORY
Brentford took on Crystal Palace in their first league game of the season at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Spearheading the attack in the absence of Ivan Toney, Yoane Wissa did an excellent job alongside his fellow attackers.
Crystal Palace had a goal disallowed controversially, and it seemingly brought the home team back to life.
Wissa released a pass into the path of Bryan Mbeumo, and the latter cut in onto his left foot and slotted it into the back of the net in the 29th minute. Death, taxes, and the Cameroonian winger combining with the Congolese attacker once again.
An own goal by Ethan Pinnock allowed Palace to level things up in the 57th minute. Odsonne Edouard thought he had given the away side the lead in the 59th minute, but he was adjudged to have been offside.
The Bees would have the last laugh as Wissa proved to be the hero. Nathan Collins’ shot was deflected into the hands of the Palace goalkeeper, who then palmed it into the path of Wissa. The striker reacted quickest to turn the ball into the net in the 76th minute. Lead restored!
Upon his substitution in the 84th minute for debutant Fabio Carvalho, he was given a standing ovation by the home fans as he exited the pitch.
CHRISTANTUS UCHE HELPS GETA AZULONES TO A DRAW
Christantus Uche grabbed Getafe’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw away to Athletic Club in their opening La Liga match at San Mamés.
The 21-year-old Nigerian made his official debut for the side, and he scored an important debut goal to help them secure a point.
Getafe had fallen behind to Oihan Sancet’s 27th-minute stunner from outside the box. They had two opportunities to grab an equalizer after the restart but were denied by the crossbar and the opposition goalie. It seemed it was going to end in a loss for the visitors before Christantus Uche came to their rescue and grabbed the equalizer in the 64th minute.Â
The Nigerian rose highest and flicked the ball deftly into the bottom left corner from Luis Milla’s well-placed cross from a corner.
A memorable moment for the youngster who joined Getafe from third-tier Spanish side AD Ceuta FC. There were a flurry of chances from Athletic Club late on, but Getafe held on to see out the draw.
AMINE HARIT STARS IN BREST DEMOLITION
In Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge as Olympique Marseille’s new boss against Brest at the Stade Francis-Le Blé, Amine Harit wasted no time in showing off his skillset.
The Moroccan midfielder provided the assist for the early opening debut goal, teasing a through pass into the path of the attacker to grab the opener. Brest was awarded a penalty a few minutes later, but they missed it. Harit then teed up Luis Henrique with a clever flick in the 21st minute to pile on the home side’s misery and double the away side’s lead. A foul on the Moroccan in the 30th minute in the opposition box by Jonas Martin led to a penalty for Marseille, which was duly dispatched. Brest grabbed a goal back before halftime, but goals by Luis Henrique and Elye Wahi condemned them to a 5-1 loss.
They sit atop the Ligue 1 table after match day one.
Amine Harit has made a fantastic start to the season, already matching his Ligue 1 assist tally from last season in one match.
AMINE GOUIRI LEADS RENNES TO OPENING DAY WIN
Stade Rennais took on Olympique Lyon at Roazhon Park in their opening match of the season.
Benjamin Bourigeaud grabbed the opening goal for the home side.
Amine Gouiri pounced on a loose back pass by Moussa Niakhate and rounded the goalkeeper to double their lead in the 21st minute, two minutes after the opener. He could have added to his tally after the break, but the ball failed to find the back of the net.
The 24-year-old Algerian attacker then teed up substitute Henrikh Meister to grab a debut goal in the closing minutes of the game, all but confirming the three points for the side. A brilliant start to the season!
YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI OFF THE MARK
Youssef En-Nesyri is off the mark for Fenerbahce SK in the Turkish League. The summer signing grabbed a goal for José Mourinho’s side in a 2-2 away draw at Göztepe.
The home side took the lead in the 33rd minute, but the goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Edin Dzeko subsequently grabbed a goal for the away side from the penalty spot to give them the lead in the additional minutes of the first half.
Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri got in on the act too in the 7th minute of added time. He threaded the ball to Szymanski and ran into the box for the return ball. The latter teased a delicious ball into the box, and En-Nesyri ghosted in behind to guide the ball into the net with a deft header just before the break.
Koray Günter helped the home side get one back with a 68th-minute header, while Romulo Cardoso grabbed the equalizer late on in the 95th minute to ensure both sides shared the spoils.
RAVELOSON AND COULIBALY SPEARHEAD THE COMEBACK
Newly promoted side AJ Auxerre took on OGC Nice at home in their opening Ligue 1 match.
Auxerre had fallen behind early in the match to a 21st-minute header by Mohamed-Ali Cho. The home side pressed for an equalizer but were denied by excellent goalkeeping. The Ligue 2 champions grabbed an equalizer through Madagascan international Rayan Raveloson in the 44th minute, their first goal back in the top flight. A cross by Paul Joly found Raveloson in the box; he controlled it and fired on the turn into the net.
Both sides remained deadlocked until Lasso Coulibaly’s substitution. The Ivorian midfielder grabbed the equalizer in the final minutes of stoppage time, swiftly latching onto a long ball by his goalkeeper and lobbing it on the volley over the onrushing opposing goalie.
Comeback complete and an opening day victory for the French club. A debut goal for the Ivorian within four minutes of his introduction. Coulibaly’s goal helped them extend their unbeaten home game run to fourteen games across all competitions.
