African players in Europe: Ighalo maintains goal-per-start record

Paris (AFP) – Nigerian Odion Ighalo continued a record of scoring every time he starts for Manchester United by netting in a 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win away to Norwich City at the weekend. 

Apart from four goals in four starts, the on-loan forward also scored once after coming off the bench for a total of five goals in 11 appearances.   

Ivorian Nicolas Pepe was the other African scorer in the last-eight stage, putting Arsenal ahead for the first time in a 2-1 win at Sheffield United.

ENGLAND

ODION IGHALO (Manchester Utd)

He scored the opening goal and a foul on him led to a Norwich City player being red-carded as United won 2-1 to book an FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea. Ighalo, who joined the Red Devils temporarily last January from Shanghai Shenhua, netted from close range and when he was later hacked down on the edge of the box, Timm Klose got his marching orders.

NICOLAS PEPE (Arsenal)

Pepe scored his eighth Arsenal goal, from the penalty spot, as the Gunners moved into the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win at Sheffield United. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rested by Mikel Arteta, the Ivorian took responsibility from the spot and confidently dispatched the ball low into Dean Henderson’s left-hand corner.

MOHAMED SALAH/SADIO MANE (Liverpool)

Egyptian Salah and Senegalese Mane were both on the scoresheet as Liverpool thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 as the Reds ended a 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England. The Egyptian showed why his presence was so badly missed in a 0-0 draw at Everton last weekend with a cool control and finish for Liverpool’s second goal before Salah teed up Mane to round off the scoring. Both have played huge parts in Liverpool’s title triumph and still have the Golden Boot to challenge for. Salah has 17 goals, two behind Premier League top scorer Jamie Vardy, while Mane is on 15.

SPAIN

JOSEPH AIDOO (Celta Vigo)

Ghana defender Aidoo helped Celta snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Barcelona in what could prove a pivotal moment in the title race. Aidoo was among those in charge of marshalling Lionel Messi, who teed up Luis Suarez’s opener but was unable to score his 700th career goal for club and country. Celta’s draw, earned after a late free-kick from Iago Aspas, allowed Real Madrid to move two points clear at the top of La Liga.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2Vrk2qT