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23.10.2007 Football News

African goals in Europe: 19 - 22 Oct

By BBC
Asamoah scored a fantastic goal for UdineseAsamoah scored a fantastic goal for Udinese
23.10.2007 LISTEN

England

Didier Drogba shrugged off speculation about his Chelsea future to score in his team's 2-0 Premier League victory at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

In an interview with France Football magazine last week the Ivorian striker suggested that he had been unhappy at Stamford Bridge for some time and would like a transfer to one of the leading continental sides.

However, Chelsea manager Avram Grant put his faith in Drogba on Saturday and he was rewarded with a typically strong run and composed finish in the eighth minute.

Elsewhere Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari continued his excellent form for Portsmouth with their first goal in a 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic.

Benjani broke the deadlock in the 81st minute, volleying home a cross from Ghanaian Sulley Muntari, to move to the top of the goalscoring charts with seven league strikes.

Ivory Coast international defender Kolo Toure scored his first goal of the season for Arsenal with a powerful low long-range free-kick in the 68th minute of their 2-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers.

And South Africa forward Benni McCarthy scored twice as Blackburn Rovers cruised to a 4-2 home win over Reading.

France

Algerian striker Rafik Saifi scored twice for Lorient but could not prevent his side sinking to defeat in a 5-3 thriller at Auxerre.

Nice moved up to seventh after two well taken goals from Ivory Coast striker Bakari Kone helped them to a 3-1 home win over rock bottom Metz.

French-Senegalese forward Bafetimbi Gomis scored twice in six first-half minutes to give St Etienne a 2-0 win at Toulouse.

Germany

Nigerian marksman Solomon Okoronkwo scored a last-minute consolation in Hertha Berlin's 3-2 defeat at second placed Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Holland

Moroccan striker Samir El Gaaouri scored a consolation goal as VVV-Venlo went down 3-1 at second placed PSV Eindhoven.

Despite El Gaaouiri's best efforts things look increasingly bleak for VVV who are bottom of the Dutch top division with just three points from their eight games.

Italy

Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan scored a terrific goal to save a home draw for Udinese as they were held 1-1 by fifth placed Palermo.

There looked to be little danger when Asamoah picked up the ball but a combination of some excellent quick feet and a deadly low finish earned Udinese a point.

Belgium

With two minutes remaining, Congo-Kinshasa midfielder Marcel Mbayo scored the only goal of the game as his side Lokeren edged passed Charleroi.

The win meant Lokeren moved one place to seventh position with 17 points.

The other African goal here was scored by the Ivorian striker Francois Zoko, who equalised in the last minute in Mons-Bergen 1-1 draw with the league leaders Standard Liege.

Portugal

There were some shock results in the fourth round of the Portuguese League Cup as Benfica drew thanks to a 90th minute goal by Ghana-born American Freddy Adu, and Sporting Lisbon lost at home.

But the only African goal was scored by Modu Sougou of Senegal. The striker pulled a late goal back for Uniao Leiria who were beaten 3-1 by Penafiel.

Turkey

Cameroonian Alioum Saidou gave Kayerispor the lead early in the second-half against Genclerbirligi but the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Trabzonspor could not maintain their 2-0 lead against Besiktas after goals by Gokdeniz Karadeniz and Guinean striker Ibrahima Yattara in the first six minutes. Besiktas fought back and won the game 3-2, finishing with 10 men.

Greece

Lomana LuaLua looks set to make an impact in the Greek League as the DR Congo striker scored for Olympiakos, who beat Panionios 4-1.

LuaLua scored in the 6th minute to put his side ahead before Algerian striker Rafik Djebbour equalised in the 54th.

Just in....
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