African players in Europe: Aubameyang leads golden boot race

Paris (AFP) – Arsenal sharpshooter Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took the African honours in Europe at the weekend by scoring twice to become the English Premier League leading scorer.

A brace from the Gabonese helped see off Burnley 3-1 at the Emirates and lifted his season tally to 12 — one more than Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane.

Ghanaian Jeffrey Schlupp struck the goal that set Crystal Palace on the way to a stunning 3-2 victory at defending champions Manchester City.

England 

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

Liverpool’s Egyptian king continued his return to form by nonchalantly stabbing home the Premier League leaders’ opener in a 2-0 win at Wolves that sent them four points clear at the top. Salah also set up Liverpool’s second goal at Molineux as his cross was converted by Virgil van Dijk.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)

Despite scoring, Salah dropped to second in the race for the golden boot alongside Kane on 11 goals for the season as Aubameyang’s double in a 3-1 win over Burnley moved the striker into the lead with 12. Aubameyang struck early in each half, his second strike, in particular, a fine finish that flew high past Joe Hart, as Arsenal moved level on points with Chelsea in fourth.

JEFFREY SCHLUPP (Crystal Palace)

Winger Schlupp played a big part in the surprise of the weekend as Palace stunned Manchester City 3-2 at the Etihad. City dominated the early stages and led 1-0 until Schlupp stormed past Kyle Walker and arrowed a low left-footed shot into the far corner to put Palace on course for a famous win.

Spain

MUBARAK WAKASO (Alaves)

The Ghanaian international midfielder helped Alaves secure a crucial second consecutive clean sheet as the season’s surprise package claimed a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad to move fifth in La Liga, just one point behind Real Madrid.

Italy

KALIDOU KOULIBALY (Napoli)

The highly-rated Senegal centre-back helped Napoli to an eighth Serie A clean sheet of the season as Carlo Ancelotti’s men edged out SPAL 1-0 to remain only eight points adrift of leaders Juventus.

HAMED JUNIOR TRAORE (Empoli)

Ivorian teenager Traore set up Francesco Caputo to score against Sampdoria, with the goal confirmed by VAR after first being disallowed for offside. Traore, 18, then missed a chance to score his first top-flight goal for the promoted Tuscany side when his daisy-cutter was fingertipped away from goal. Empoli finished 4-2 losers.

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2LEAcqR