Essien, Abubakar score abroad

Two Ghanaian players were on target in Europe this weekend. Michael Essien scored in England and Mohammed Abubakar was on target in Greece. Ghanasoccernet has more.

 
In England
Michael Essien put up a magnificent performance at the Stamford Bridge to give Chelsea all three points to keep pace on the league title race.

The versatile midfiled gem marked a premier league return since August with a classical finish on the 18th minute.

Essien looped the ball with outside of his foot to beat the stranded Shey Given.

Fulham's impressive run of form continued over the weekend with a 3-1 drubbing of Bolton Wanderers at away.

Right-back John Paintsil lasted the entire duration of the game for the Cottagers.

Mustapha Riga played only 16 minutes for Bolton after replacing Trinidad and Tobago international Jlloyd Samuel on the 74th minute.

Charlton Athletic's qualification to the top flight was dealt a blow after a 2-1 defeat to  Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Striker Chris Dickson replaced Mathew Spring on the 80th minute but that did not change anything as they remained rooted to the bottom of the league table.

Winger Quincy Owusu-Abeyie was left out of the Cardiff City first team squad in their one all stalemate with Bristol City at the Ashton Gate Park.

Elsewhere in  the League One, former Arsenal youngster Jo Osei Kuffuor shook-off a slight injury and replaced in-form Reckie Lmabert on the 70th minute in Bristol Rovers' 5-0 win at Walsal.

In Holland:
Mathew Amoah's return remained the biggest inspiration for NAC Breda who romped to a sweet 3-0 victory at Vitesse Arnhem.

Coach of Yellow Army Robert Maackant introduced the clinical finisher on 65 minutes to replace Nourdin Boukhari.

It was a torrid weekend for FC Utrecht as they were beaten 1-0 at their own backyard by AZ Alkmaar.

Defender Francis Dickoh replaced injured Alje Schut with just 17 minutes remaining on the clock.

Ajax continue to push their way to the top of the Eredivisie table with a three nil demolishing of De Graafschap.

Midfielder Jeffery Sarpong was an unused sub at the Amsterdam Arena.

Kwame Quansah and Emmanuel Boakye were in full time action for Heracles who only managed a  point from their game with Volendam.

Black Stars defender Eric Addo has experienced a dip in form and dropped to the Roda JC bench in their recent games and sat on the bench in their 2-0 loss at FC Groningen.

In Italy:
hmed Barusso played 90 minutes for Siena as they were destroyed 5-1 by AC Milan in a game that saw Felippo Inzaghi bagged in his 300 career goals.

Kwadwo Asamoah maintained his place in the Udinese first team as the Little Zebras were held to a 1-1 drawn game by Catania at the Stadio Fruili.

Sulley Muntari provided the free kick that resulted in Inter Milan's first goal at the San Siro.

In Norway:
Alexander Tettey and Anthony Annan gave Rosenberg a bright start to their Norwegian  league campaign with a 3-0 scoreline over Valerenga.

Fredrikstad opened  the league campaign with a draw  at Bodo/Glimt. Black Satellites striker Dominic Adiyiah was allowed a place on the substitute bench for Fredrikstad.

Akwasi Oduro Qwekeye played three minutes for Bodo/Glimt.

In France:
Olympique Lyonnais nightmarish streak rages after defeat at home to Auxerre who were without the suspended Moussa Narry.

Andre Ayew was missing from the Lorient set-up that drew one-all with Nantes.

In the French ligue II, Charles Boateng was a second half sub for Dijon who only picked a point from their game with the maiden finalist of the European Club Cup Competition, Stade Reims.

In Germany:
Isaac Vorsah started the game for Hoffenheim who split points with Hannover 1996 but eventually subbed on the 75th minute by Selim Teber.

Defender Jerome Boateng watched Hamberg SV smoothly edge pass Energie Cottbus by two goals to nil.

Godfred Aduobe was left out of the Karlsruhe first team for their encounter with Amenia Bielefeld. They lost at home by a goal to nil.

In the Bundesliga II, Isaac Boakye was on the scoresheet for Nurnberg as they bagged a vital away point from Duisburg.

Others:
Mohammed Abubakari scored in Pansserraikos' 2-1 defeat at Panthrakikos Komotini in Greece.

Nana Akwesi Asare played 90 minutes in KV Mechelen's 2 - 1 win over Anderlecht in Belgium.