Manchester City’s Algerian midfielder Riyad
Mahrez (L) vies with Newport County’s
English defender Dan Butler (R) during the
English FA Cup fifth round football match
between Newport County and Manchester
City at Rodney Parade in Newport, south
Wales on February 16, 2019. (Photo by
GEOFF CADd**k / AFP) /
Record Manchester City signing Riyad
Mahrez took advantage of a rare starting
place to score as the Premier League
leaders coasted to a 4-1 FA Cup last-16
win over Newport County at the weekend.
The Algerian, who cost City $77 million (68
million euros) when he moved from
Leicester City in July, has not begun a
league match this year due to the wealth
of talent at the club.
City manager Pep Guardiola apologised to
Mahrez before the cup tie for not starting
him more often and the winger responded
with an impressive performance at fourth-
tier Newport.
England
RIYAD MAHREZ (Manchester City)
In a goalless first half, Mahrez went close
to breaking the deadlock when his firm
strike was well-saved by goalkeeper Joe
Day. But City’s class told in the second
half and, with Guardiola’s men already two
goals ahead, Mahrez rounded off the win
deep into stoppage time with a well-struck
shot.
JEFFREY SCHLUPP (Crystal Palace)
An early goal from the Ghana international
set up top-flight Palace for a 2-0 win at
third-tier Doncaster Rovers. “It’s a special
tournament and, hopefully, with the luck of
the draw we might get a lesser team to
have a better chance of getting through (to
the final),†Schlupp told the BBC.
YVES BISSOUMA (Brighton)
The Mali midfielder produced an impressive
all-round display as Brighton won 2-1 at
home to second-tier club Derby County.
Bissouma set up the Seagulls’ opener when
his precise cut-back was volleyed in by
French forward Anthony Knockaert.
Bissouma also had a central role as
Brighton made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage-
time. He was unlucky to see his excellent
curling shot hit the inside of the post but
the ricochet fell kindly for Jurgen Locadia,
who knocked in the rebound.
SAID BENRAHMA (Brentford)
While fellow Algeria forward Mahrez ended
up on a winning side, it was a different
story for Benrahma as his Brentford team
were beaten 4-1 at second-tier rivals
Swansea despite going 1-0 up. Benrahma,
who had a role in the build-up to that
opening goal, led the line well in the first
half, but the ball did not break for him in a
match that the west London side finished
with 10 men after Ezri Konsa was sent off.
Spain
KARL TOKO EKAMBI (Villarreal)
Toko Ekambi helped Villarreal to a surprise
victory over Champions League hopefuls
Sevilla by scoring in a 3-0 victory. The
Cameroonian forward sidefooted into an
open net after a brilliant Carlos Bacca
backheel to give his side a two-goal lead at
the Estadio de la Ceramica.
RYAD BOUDEBOUZ (Celta Vigo)
Boudebouz endured a debut to forget for
Celta as the Algerian midfielder was shown
a straight red card in their 4-1 defeat by
Levante. Boudebouz, who joined on loan
from Real Betis in January, was sent off in
the 49th minute with his side already 2-0
down for thrusting his studs into the thigh
of Borja Mayoral.
Italy
AFRIYIE ACQUAH, ISMAEL BENNACER
(Empoli)
Ghanaian midfielder Acquah scored the
second goal as struggling Empoli got a
boost with a 3-0 win over Sassuolo.
Algerian midfielder Bennacer set up Rade
Krunic for the opener after 34 minutes and
three minutes later Acquah added a second
for his first goal since moving from Torino
last year.
KALIDOU KOULIBALY (Napoli)/OLA AINA
(Torino)
Senegal defender Koulibaly blocked a
goalbound effort from Tomas Rincon just
before the break as Napoli were held to a
0-0 draw at home by Torino to slip 13
points behind leaders Juventus. On-loan
Chelsea defender Aina almost scored his
second goal in as many games for Torino.
Germany
ISHAK BELFODIL (Hoffenheim)
The Algeria forward backed up netting
twice against Bundesliga leaders Borussia
Dortmund last weekend by scoring with his
shoulder in a 3-0 home win over Hanover
96. Belfodil enjoyed a lucky bounce when
he mistimed his header at the end of a
Kerem Demirbay free-kick, as the ball
deflected off his shoulder and into the net
for his seventh league goal this season.
SALOMON KALOU (Hertha Berlin)
After scoring a stunning solo goal in the
last round, Ivorian Kalou turned provider,
laying on a pinpoint assist for Davie Selke’s
opener against Werder Bremen. After
collecting a long-range pass from Ondrej
Duda, Kalou barrelled into the box to
square for Selke to put the home side
ahead in a match that finished 1-1.
France
NICOLAS PEPE (Lille)
Jose Mourinho was in attendance at the
Stade Pierre Mauroy to watch the Ivorian
forward in action after a fine season in
which he has already scored 16 Ligue 1
goals. Pepe failed to find the net against
Montpellier, though, as Lille were held to a
0-0 draw.
STEPHANE BAHOKEN (Angers)
The 26-year-old Cameroonian forward
netted his third goal in five league games
from the penalty spot in Angers’ 3-0 win
over Nice. Bahoken’s tally of eight Ligue 1
goals this term is already the highest of his
career.
Source:
guardian.ng/sport/african-players-in-
europe-mahrez-scores-after-rare-start/
