PARIS, Oct 8, 2012 (AFP) – Nigerian goal poacher Obafemi Martins is proving an instant success at Spanish La Liga outfit Levante, scoring his second winner in as many home matches at the weekend.
The 27-year-old former national team striker, whose previous clubs include Inter Milan and Newcastle United, netted the lone goal of a derby against Valencia midway through the opening half.
There were goals for Mohamed Diame of Senegal, Ivorian Arouna Kone and Youssouf Mulumbu of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the English Premier League and Tunisian Saber Khlifa claimed a French Ligue 1 hat-trick.
ENGLAND
MOHAMED DIAME (West Ham)
The Senegal midfielder put his side ahead with a superb solo goal against Arsenal, but couldn’t stop them eventually losing 3-1 at Upton Park. The game was goalless when Diame cut in from the left and cleverly skipped past Aaron Ramsey before curling a fine finish into the far corner.
AROUNA KONE (Wigan)
The Ivory Coast striker opened the scoring in a 2-2 draw against Everton with a controversial goal. Kone appeared several yards offside when he stooped to head home Shaun Maloney’s cross in the 10th minute. Kone also set up Wigan’s second goal for Franco Di Santo in the 23rd minute with an incisive run and cross.
YOUSSOUF MULUMBU (West Brom)
The Democratic Republic of Congo midfielder scored his first goal since last November to seal a 3-2 win over QPR at the Hawthorns. Mulumbu, whose last strike came against Tottenham, netted Albion’s third goal with a clinical finish from 12 yards to put them 3-1 up in the 85th minute.
YAYA TOURE (Man City)
The Ivory Coast midfielder and reigning African Footballer of the Year played 90 minutes as the Premier League champions beat Sunderland 3-0 at Eastlands. City had won only one of their previous six matches in all competitions, but they saw off the Black Cats with Toure in typically dominant mood.
JOHN OBI MIKEL (Chelsea)
The Nigeria midfielder helped the Blues open up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Norwich at Stamford Bridge. Mikel played 82 minutes before being replaced by Oriol Romeu.
FRANCE
SABER KHLIFA (Evian)
Tunisian striker Khlifa produced the outstanding individual performance of the weekend by claiming a superb hat-trick in his side’s 3-2 victory at champions Montpellier. Having opened the scoring on the half hour, Khlifa equalised for Evian in the 62nd minute with a fine strike from 20 yards. Khlifa claimed the winner in the 89th minute, collecting the ball in midfield and tearing past Daniel Congre before lifting the ball over Geoffrey Jourdren to complete his first Ligue 1 hat-trick.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Saint-Etienne)
Aubameyang registered a goal and an assist as Saint-Etienne routed Nancy 4-0 to end a run of three games without victory. The Gabon international teed up Brandao for the hosts’ third goal in the 21st minute and then completed the scoring four minutes later, running on to Renaud Cohade’s curved pass and stabbing the ball past visiting goalkeeper Damien Gregorini.
ALAIN TRAORE (Lorient)
Burkinabe midfielder Traore was one of the stand-out performers as Lorient held Lyon to a 1-1 draw in an enthralling, high-quality game at Stade du Moustoir. For once, the 23-year-old with the lethal left foot did not score, but he did wobble the Lyon crossbar with a fierce drive in the second half and also played a role in the build-up to Jeremie Aliadiere’s 47th-minute equaliser for Lorient.
GERMANY
KNOWLEDGE MUSONA (FC Augsburg)
The Zimbabwe midfielder set up Augsburg’s second goal in their 3-1 win over Werder Bremen after his clever pass split the defence for striker Stephan Hain to slot home. Musona picked up a second-half yellow card as Augsburg gained their first win of the season.
CEDRICK MAKIADI (Freiburg)
The Democratic Republic of Congo midfielder headed his team’s first goal in their 3-0 victory at home to Nuremberg. The 28-year-old was left unmarked in front of goal to nod home from close range after 36 minutes.
MAME DIOUF (Hanover 96)
The Senegal striker netted Hanover’s 86th-minute equaliser to preserve their 18-month unbeaten home record as they held defending champions Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw. Diouf came off the bench in the second half and stabbed home a shot from Ivory Coast striker Didier Ya Konan.
ITALY
KWADWO ASAMOAH (Juventus)
Several days after Juventus escaped with a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, Ghana midfielder Asamoah was back in action for the ‘Old Lady of Turin’ in a 2-1 victory over Siena which maintained Juve’s Serie A lead, due to superior goals difference, over Napoli. The 23-year-old came on as a second-half substitute and impressed with his solid passing and holding up of the ball.
KEVIN PRINCE BOATENG (AC Milan)
A week after an improved performance in a 1-1 draw at Parma, the inconsistent former Ghana midfielder was disappointing in the 1-0 Milan derby defeat to Inter. Lively and full of good intention, Boateng still cannot get his shots on target and had Rossoneri fans groaning in frustration when he missed the chance of the first half to equalise Walter Samuel’s fourth-minute opener. Alone in front of the ‘keeper, Boateng swerved his shot wide from 15 yards.
SPAIN
OBAFEMI MARTINS (Levante)
The ex-Nigeria striker made a big impact in his debut for Levante against Real Sociedad by scoring the winner and now, in his second home game, he hit the only goal of the match after 22 minutes to sink derby rivals Valencia. Martins ran the Valencia defence ragged with his pace and strength, and fired a fine volley home after being left unmarked.
KOFFI ROMARIC (Zaragoza)
The Ivory Coast midfielder has struggled to find his best form since a mid-year move to Zaragoza due to a niggling injury and he could hardly have had a worse game than that against Getafe as he left his side with 10 men after just eight minutes following a straight red card. He went in knee high on Mehdi Lacen, who struggled on for 15 minutes before going off injured.
WAKASO MUBARAK (Espanyol)
After serving a one-match suspension, Ghana-born Mubarak returned to the starting line-up on the left wing in a frustrating night for Espanyol as they drew 1-1 at Valladolid. Wakaso saw plenty of the ball in the first half and had several shots from distance which caused no trouble.
