Iheanacho scores again in African goal rush
PARIS: Nigerians Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa were among the scorers during a highly profitable weekend for African goal-poachers in the five major European leagues.
Iheanacho rescued a point for English Premier League leaders Manchester City against Southampton with his eighth goal in 11 league matches.
Musa got his first goal for Leicester City with assistance from Algerian Islam Slimani in a 3-1 triumph over Crystal Palace.
ENGLAND SADIO MANE (Liverpool)
The Senegal forward sent his side on their way to a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion that took the Merseysiders level on points at the top of the Premier League table. He opened the scoring in the 21st minute at Anfield when he controlled a farpost cross from Roberto Firmino and finished confidently for his fourth goal of the season.
YANNICK BOLASIE (Everton)
Drew his side level away to Burnley when, in the 58th minute at Turf Moor, the Democratic Republic of Congo international pinched the ball from team-mate Romelu Lukaku and slammed home his first Everton goal. But it was not enough to get the Toffees a point, with a last-minute goal from Scott Arfield sealing a 2-1 win for Burnley.
AHMED MUSA (Leicester City)
The Nigeria striker scored his first goal for the Foxes by breaking the deadlock three minutes before half-time after good work by Shinji Okazaki and Slimani in champions Leicester’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.
KELECHI IHEANACHO (Manchester City)
Musa’s fellow Nigeria forward continued his fine run of form to help leaders City cancel out Southampton’s opener in a 1-1 draw that kept Pep Guardiola’s side top of the table on goal difference. On for Kevin De Bruyne as a substitute at the start of the second half, he drew City level in the 55th minute when, following passes from Fernandinho and Leroy Sane, he swept in a confident finish from six yards.
SPAIN KEVIN-PRINCE BOATENG (Las Palmas)
Former Ghana midfielder Boateng scored one of the goals of the season as he finished off a sweeping 18-pass move from one end of the field to the other with a spectacular scissor-kick from Tana’s backheeled assist to give Las Palmas the lead at Villarreal.
CEDRIC BAKAMBU (Villarreal)
DR Congo striker Bakambu had the final say against Las Palmas as he slotted home his second goal in as many La Liga games in the 92nd minute to keep Villarreal just two points off the top with a 2-1 win.
ITALY MOHAMED SALAH (Roma)
Salah was on fire during a stand-out performance for Roma in a 4-1 rout of Palermo that saw the Giallorossi move within two points of leaders Juventus, taking their league-leading goals tally to 23. A searing run into the area by the Egyptian was rewarded with a flick from Edin Dzeko that Salah fired through the legs of ‘keeper Josip Posavec on the half hour. Salah also set up the final Roma goal for Stephan El Shaarawy.
KEITA BALDE (Lazio)
Keita was involved in most of Lazio’s first-half chances on their way to a battling 2-2 draw at Torino. He fired a first-half freekick over Joe Hart’s crossbar, then failed to beat the England ‘keeper in a one-on-one soon after.
GERMANY PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Borussia Dortmund)
The Gabon striker netted Dortmund’s first goal in their 3-3 fight-back draw at strugglers Ingolstadt. After Ingolstadt took a 2-0 half-time lead, Aubameyang headed home from Ousmane Dembele’s cross on 59 minutes for his seventh goal in seven games.
ANIS BEN-HATIRA (Darmstadt)
The Berlin-born Tunisia international slammed home Darmstadt’s first-half freekick to open the scoring in a 3-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg, who are winless in seven games.
NABY KEITA (RB Leipzig)
The Guinea international scored twice as Bundesliga newcomers Leipzig defeated Werder Bremen 3-1 to climb to second. Keita capped off a superb solo run to put Leipzig in front just before half-time, and the midfielder struck again on 74 minutes when he powered home a cross.
NABIL BENTALEB (Schalke 04)
The Algeria midfielder, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, has scored three goals in two games after netting twice in Schalke’s 3-0 win over Mainz which lifted them out of the bottom three. He opened the scoring with a great shot off his left foot on 23 minutes, then added the third when he fired through the Mainz goalkeeper’s legs on 62 minutes.
FRANCE RYAD BOUDEBOUZ (Montpellier)
Algeria attacking midfielder Boudebouz scored both his team’s goals in a sobering 6-2 defeat at Monaco. The 24-year-old France-born player gave his team the lead after just nine minutes with a wonderful free-kick from just outside the penalty box. His second on the hour mark was from the penalty spot and drew Montpellier level at 2-2 before Monaco hit four goals in 25 minutes.— AFP