Naharnet

Another Goal for West Ham Newcomer Sakho

Senegal-born West Ham striker Diafra Sakho maintained a bright beginning to his English Premier League career by scoring against Manchester United at the weekend.

However, a fourth goal in four matches from the 24-year-old former Metz star could not prevent the 'Hammers' losing 2-1 to the 'Red Devils'.

Cameroonian Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were on target in Germany.

ENGLAND

DIAFRA SAKHO (West Ham United)

Close-season signing Sakho continued his fine start to life in English football by scoring as West Ham lost 2-1 at Manchester United. He struck in the 37th minute at Old Trafford, nodding the ball into an unguarded net in front of the Stretford End after Enner Valencia's header came back off the bar.

YAYA TOURE (Manchester City)

Toure has endured a slow start to the season, but the Ivory Coast international almost scored a memorable goal during his side's 4-2 win at Hull City. With the score 2-2 early in the second period, the former Barcelona midfielder let fly with a scorching 30-yard shot that crashed back into play off the left-hand upright.

MOHAMED DIAME (Hull City)

Senegal captain Diame played a key role in the move that led to Abel Hernandez equalising for Hull in the 32nd minute against City. His chip into the box tempted City defender Eliaquim Mangala into a rash, chest-high foul on Hernandez and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot.

YANNICK BOLASIE (Crystal Palace)

Democratic Republic of Congo winger Bolasie produced a characteristically livewire performance as Palace won 2-0 at home to Leicester City. The 25-year-old might have won a first-half penalty after going down under a challenge from Ritchie de Laet with the score 0-0, but referee Keith Stroud dismissed his appeal.

SPAIN

YOUSSEF EL ARABI and ISAAC SUCCESS (Granada)

El Arabi and Success started up front together in the Andalusians' 6-0 thrashing at Barcelona, but weren't without their chances early on in the match. Moroccan international El Arabi was inches away from becoming the first man to score against Barca this season when he struck the crossbar with the score still 0-0.

RAMON AZEEZ (Almeria)

Young Nigerian midfielder Azeez made a telling contribution to Almeria's win at Deportivo la Coruna as it was from his pass that Edgar Mendez struck the only goal in stoppage time.

ITALY

MICHAEL ESSIEN (AC Milan)

Essien started on the bench for Milan's trip to Cesena and finally made an appearance in the 71st minute, replacing Andrea Poli at the heart of midfield. The Ghanaian had little time to make an impact in a match that finished 1-1 after Adil Rami headed Milan level.

GERVINHO (AS Roma)

With Roma in Champions League action at Manchester City in midweek, Gervinho started on the bench for the Giallorossi's home encounter against Verona, eventually replacing Adem Ljajic in the 57th minute. The Ivorian striker's impact was immediate, thanks to his pace and movement. Gervinho played a role in both Roma goals -- the first, a 36-metre looping drive from Alessandro Florenzi, and the second a close-range strike from Mattia Destro.

KHOUMA BABACAR (Fiorentina)

Babacar claimed his first goal of the season for Fiorentina in timely fashion, as the Viola chased down a one-goal deficit at Torino following Fabio Quagliarella's strike just after the hour. The Senegalese shot straight at Torino 'keeper Jean Francois Gillet on the half hour then saw another chance go amiss just before the interval. Babacar made it third time lucky in the 78th minute to help struggling Fiorentina earn a share of the spoils which, thanks to some surprising results elsewhere, saw Vincenzo Montella's men move up to ninth, albeit nine points adrift of leaders Juventus.

FRANCE

SERGE AURIER (Paris Saint-Germain)

The Ivory Coast international was recalled to the PSG side for the trip to Toulouse, the club he left to join the champions on loan in mid-year. But it was his error that led to Toulouse taking the lead in a game that finished 1-1, his short backpass allowing Wissam Ben Yedder to pounce and find the net from a tight angle.

MAMADOU SAMASSA (Guingamp)

France-born Mali goalkeeper Samassa has endured a tough start to the season with struggling Guingamp. His team equalised late at Montpellier only to concede again moments later and sink to a 2-1 defeat that left the French Cup holders bottom of the league. To make matters worse, the 24-year-old was sent off a minute from the end for dissent.

HABIB HABIBOU (Rennes)

The gangly Central African Republic forward, a signing late in the mid-year transfer window from Belgian outfit Gent, came off the bench for the final half hour of Rennes' match at Bordeaux and equalised with 10 minutes remaining. However, his first goal in Ligue 1 was not enough to earn Rennes a draw as Bordeaux netted a stoppage-time winner to inflict a third straight defeat on the Brittany club.

GERMANY

ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING (Schalke)

The Cameroonian continued his superb play with his third goal in the last four games. Choupo-Moting scored the second goal in Schalke’s 2-1 derby win over arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund. He worked hard on defence as well to get Schalke their second straight win.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Borussia Dortmund)

After Dortmund fell two goals behind just 23 minutes into their derby with Schalke, the Gabon striker answered right back with a goal in the 26th minute. It was Aubameyang's second straight match with a goal and third in the last four contests.

MEDHI BENATIA (Bayern Munich)

The Morocco defender made his Bayern Munich debut, coming on as a sub after 55 minutes against FC Cologne. Benatia didn’t have much to do as Cologne hardly ventured away from their own goal.

Source: Agence France Presse


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