Davie blog

Goals for Chamakh, Eto'o and Allagui in Europe

PARIS (AFP) – Free-scoring Moroccan Marouane Chamakh was on the mark again for Arsenal, but could not prevent the Londoners losing 3-2 to city rivals Tottenham, while Yaya Toure was in fine form for Manchester City as they lashed Fulham 4-1.

Samuel Eto'o scored for Inter, but the slumping champions still lost 2-1 to Cheivo, while in Germany, Tunisia striker Samy Allagui came off the bench at Moenchengladbach with his side 2-1 down and scored twice to hand three much-needed points to struggling Mainz 05.

ENGLAND

DIDIER DROGBA (Chelsea)

The Ivory Coast striker endured a disappointing afternoon as Chelsea crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham, but always looked the likeliest scorer for the champions. Set up a gilt-edged chance for Salomon Kalou and saw one superb cannon off the woodwork.

MAROUANE CHAMAKH (Arsenal)

The Morocco international's ninth goal of the season looked to have given Arsenal an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the north London derby with Spurs.

However Chamakh's afternoon ended disappointingly with a substitution after 68 minutes as Spurs fought back to win 3-2.

YAYA TOURE (Manchester City)

Toure gave one of his best performances of the season, even if he is yet to convince most observers that he is worth his reported 220,000-pound weekly salary. Scored City's third goal in a 4-1 win at Fulham, rounding off a flowing 24-pass move as Roberto Mancini's men moved to within three points of first.

ITALY

SAMUEL ETO'O (Inter Milan)

It was mixed fortunes for the Cameroon captain. First, feeling aggrieved at having been hit in the neck with a forearm by Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar, he ran over to the Slovenian centre-back and headbutted him in the chest. Somehow the referee did not see it and Eto'o was not punished in any way. That allowed him to still be on the field in injury time when he scored a brilliant individual goal, beating three men from out on the left before firing home. Inter still lost 2-1 though.

NWANKWO OBIORA (Inter Milan)

The Nigerian came into the game against Chievo 10 minutes into the second half to replace the tiring Esteban Cambiasso and make his Serie A debut. However, it was not a day in which he would cover himself in glory as he was virtually anonymous in a struggling Inter side which fell to its third league defeat of the season and dropped to sixth in the league.

MOHAMED SISSOKO (Juventus) -- The Mali midfielder was again named on the bench against Genoa in this frustrating season for the former Valencia and Liverpool player. He came on at the start of the second half to replace the star of the first 45 minutes Milos Krasic. Sissoko was played in an unfamiliar position on the right of midfield and did not look comfortable there. Juve were already in command of the game, which they won 2-0.

HOUSSINE KHARJA (Genoa)

Introduced in the second half as Genoa chased the game at home to Juventus the Moroccan midfielder was a lively presence. His best moment came when he crashed a strike from 25 yards against the bar but he also forced Juve goalkeeper Marco Storari to scramble desperately to tip over another shot which was deflected and appeared to be looping in.

KWADWO ASAMOAH (Udinese)

The Ghana midfielder, one of the stand-out performers for Udinese this season, was again busy in midfield, breaking up Roma attacks and winning back the ball. However, he had less effect going forward as Roma took control of the game and ran out 2-0 winners. Asamoah was not spectacular but he played well without influencing the result.

STEPHEN APPIAH (Cesena)

The Ghana midfielder had an entertaining battle in the middle of the park with Palermo's Antonio Nocerino before eventually coming out second best. Appiah brought the experience and calm that Cesena are going to need this season, but he could not get the better of the midfield struggle and Palermo claimed a 2-1 success that keeps Cesena in deep trouble.

DJAMEL MESBAH (Lecce)

Another difficult afternoon for the Algerian midfielder with his team leaking goals. They did put in a spirited display to come back from 2-0 down and a man down to level the scores against Sampdoria before conceding a late winner. Mesbah played well, though, and was a dominant presence on the flank to keep Samp's Vladimir Koman quiet.

SOULEYMANE DIAMOUTENE (Lecce)

The Mali centre-back had an excellent game in his first appearance this season as a second half substitute, capped with a goal. Diamoutene was a giant at the back as the 10 men of Lecce fought back from a two goal deficit to draw level before cruelly conceding a late winner.

GERMANY

SAMI ALLAGUI (Mainz 05)

The Tunisia striker came off the bench at Moenchengladbach with his side 2-1 down and equalised, then headed the winner in the 88th-minute. The visitors won their first league match this month to seal a 3-2 victory to go second.

PAPISS DEMBA CISSE (Freiburg)

The Senegal striker failed to add to his tally of 10 Bundesliga goals this season as his side Freiburg lost 2-1 to league leaders Dortmund. The 25-year-old was part of the move which led to Dortmund's Germany defender Mats Hummels scoring an own goal in the 26th minute. But Dortmund hit back with two late goals to claim their 11th win out of 13 games.

SPAIN

CARLOS KAMENI (Espanyol)

Cameroon international goalkeeper Kameni kept another clean sheet as Espanyol defeated Hercules 3-0 on Sunday to maintain their 100 percent home record at the Cornella-El Prat stadium and go fourth in the Spanish first division. Shot-stopper Kameni has helped Espanyol to have the meanest home defence in the league conceding just twice in their six home victories.

SEYDOU KEITA (Barcelona)

Mali international midfielder Keita came on as a second half substitute as champions Barcelona crushed Almeria 8-0 on Saturday to warm up for their Clasico showdown against Real Madrid on November 29. Keita came on for Spanish World Cup star Xavi Hernandez at the interval with Barcelona 5-0 up and helped the club notch three more goals and equal the biggest away win in league history as Barcelona stay within a point of league leaders Madrid.

PIERRE WEBO (Real Mallorca)

The Cameroon striker scored a vital 89th minute winner as Mallorca defeated Sevilla 2-1 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on Sunday. Brazilian Luis Fabiano had equalised in the 87th minute. However, Webo struck two minutes later with his third league goal of the season as Mallorca became the first side to beat Sevilla at home in the league this season.

FRANCE

ANDRE AYEW (Marseille)

The 20-year-old Ghanaian winger, son of Marseille great Abedi Pele, notched an 88th-minute winner to give the French champions a 1-0 victory at Toulouse on Saturday. Ayew entered the fray as a substitute in the 60th minute and scored with two minutes remaining, converting Cesar Azpilicueta's cross with a powerful header to move Marseille to within two points of top spot.

GERVINHO (Lille)

Ivorian international Gervinho was a constant source of menace in his side's 2-1 defeat of Monaco on Sunday, as Lille climbed to the top of the table on goal difference above Montpellier. He tested visiting goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier after running in behind the Monaco defence in the first half and also called Ruffier into action with a point-blank header in the second period.

YOUSSEF EL ARABI (Caen)

Moroccan hitman El Arabi was on the losing side as Caen went down 2-1 at Paris Saint-Germain, but his 85th-minute consolation strike was his 10th goal of the season and enabled him to move a goal clear of Lille's Senegal striker Moussa Sow at the top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts.