The Star Early Edition

Iheanacho, Kone shine in the FA Cup

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Several African-born players produced match-winning performanc­es for their teams in the world’s oldest football competitio­n, the FA Cup, at the weekend.

The 19-year-old Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho scored the second goal in Manchester City’s 3-0 away win to Norwich City. It was teenager Iheanacho’s fifth goal of the season. The 19-year-old scored in the 31st minute, steering a shot into the bottom-right corner from strike partner Sergio Aguero’s pass.

And for Everton, 32-year-old Ivorian Arouna Koné was on the mark for Everton, scoring the first goal in their 2-0 victory over Dagenham and Redbridge at Goodison Park. Kone broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute with a closerange header from Bryan Ovideo’s right-wing free-kick.

In the Championsh­ip Division of England, Gambian debutant Mustapha Carayol opened the scoring with a blistering strike as Leeds booked their place in round four with a 2-0 victory over fellow Championsh­ip side Rotherham United. Carayol’s Senegalese team-mate Souleymane Doukara put the seal on Leeds’s win in the 90th minute following a defensive mix-up.

In France Rachid Ghezzal of Algeria nabbed an outstandin­g goal for Lyon and there was a brace for Congolese internatio­nal Cedric Bakambu for Sporting Lisbon. There was also success for Congo striker John Tshibumbu of Gazelec Ajaccio. He scored the second goal for a 2-0 lead at Monaco before being pegged back for 2-2.

In Spain, Congolese striker Cedrik Bakambu, of Villarreal, struck twice to take his tally in his debut season in Spain to 12 as Villarreal beat Sporting Gijon 2-0 to register their sixth consecutiv­e La Liga win.

Guinean winger Lass Bangoura came off the bench for Raylo Vallecano to set up Pablo Hernandez’s consolatio­n goal as Rayo slipped deeper into relegation trouble with a 2-1 defeat at Levante.

In Italy, Lazio’s Senegalese striker Keita Balde was given a rare start and broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time away to title challenger­s Fiorentina, beating them 3-1. – African News Agency (ANA)

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