African players in Europe: Salah, Aubameyang among goals

Paris (AFP) – Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the headlines for African players in Europe at the weekend, the pair scoring in wins for Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal. 

Egyptian Salah opened the scoring in second-placed Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Watford while Gabonese Aubameyang netted the winner as fifth-placed Arsenal edged Bournemouth 2-1.

There was an unusually high number of African scorers in La Liga with Ivorian Seydou Doumbia, Ghanaian Emmanuel Boateng and Moroccan Youssef en-Nesyri among the goals.  

England

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)

The striker extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 17 matches in all competitions as he bagged the winner in a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth. Aubameyang struck in the 67th minute at Dean Court, meeting Sead Kolasinac’s low cross with a close-range finish for his first goal in five games. The 29-year-old’s 10th goal of the season in all competitions lifted Arsenal to within one point of the top four as they chase a place in next season’s Champions League.

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

The winger opened the scoring to set Liverpool on course for a 3-0 win at Watford. With Liverpool labouring to break down the stubborn Watford defence, Salah made a well-timed run to finish off an incisive move involving Senegalese Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in the 67th minute. Salah’s ninth goal of his inconsistent season was the catalyst for Liverpool to strike twice more in the closing stages despite the dismissal of Jordan Henderson. The Reds remain just two points behind leaders Manchester City.

WILFRIED ZAHA (Crystal Palace)

The Ivory Coast forward helped Palace earn a 0-0 draw at Manchester United that piled on the misery for his former club. With Zaha constantly pressuring the United defence with his pace, tricks and clever runs, Palace were able to stop Jose Mourinho’s team establishing any rhythm. While Palace are still dangerously close to the relegation zone, Zaha’s quality masterminded a display that suggests they can beat the drop. It was Palace’s first point in a league game at Old Trafford since December 1989.

Spain

SEYDOU DOUMBIA (Girona)

Doumbia wrapped up a 3-1 away win for Girona over Catalan neighbours Espanyol. The Ivorian forward sped away in the 90th minute, held off Didac Vila, and despite his initial shot being saved, followed up the rebound for an impressive counter-attacking goal.

EMMANUEL BOATENG (Levante)

Boateng salvaged a point for Levante as the Ghanaian’s late goal secured a 2-2 draw against Huesca. Boateng’s low drive across goal found the bottom corner in the 74th minute to deny Huesca a second win of the season.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2FIp0do