Over the weekend Rigobert Song in Turkey and Daniel Ngom Kome in Spain scored goals for the first time this season in their respective leagues. Dorge Kouemaha notched another goal in the Greek Cup and Francis Kioyo keeps scoring in Germany’s Bundesliga 2.
Turkey
Rigobert Song, who has had a very good season at the heart of Galatasaray’s defense, scored over the weekend in Galatasaray’s 5-1 win over Gaziantepspor. Click here to watch the goal. In the 29th minute Song got a touch with his head to an inswinging corner kick by Ergun Penbe and the ball was diverted enough to elude Gaziantepspor’s goalkeeper and go into the net. With the win Galatasaray moved even closer to top placed Fenerbahce and now trail the league leaders by only 2 points. Alioum Saidou continues to start with his new club Malatyaspor and played in midfield in his club’s 2-1 win over Ankaraspor. Souleymanou Hamidou was in goal as Denizlispor easily defeated Sakaryaspor 6-1. Ankaragucu’s match over the weekend was postponed due to bad weather.
Spain
Samuel Eto’o started at forward for Barcelona in their 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid. Eto’o had a rough time of it against Atletico’s central defenders Pablo Ibañez and Luis Perea and he also was denied service by the opposition’s tenacious defense which prevented Barcelona’s midfielders from supplying him. In the second half, however, Perea did bring Eto’o down just inside the penalty area but Ronaldinho missed the resulting penalty kick.
Barcelona’s loss cut their lead in Spain to only 4 points as Real Madrid defeated Carlos Kameni and Espanyol 4-0. Kameni made several nice saves to keep the score from being greater than 4-0 but he was really helpless to prevent the 4 goals which were scored.
Pierre Webo started at forward for Osasuna in their 3-1 loss to Betis but like most of his teammates he was ineffective in the game and was substituted out after 53 minutes.
Greece
The Greek league did not play over the weekend to allow Greece’s national team time to prepare for their World Cup qualifying match v Denmark. But midweek there were Greek Cup matches played and Dorge Kouemaha again made news with his new club Aris Salonika. A week after scoring the game winning goal in the first leg against Second Division Ethnikos, Kouemaha again scored the game winner in the second leg. In the 50th minute Kouemaha replaced countryman Samuel Inogue and scored the late second goal in Aris’ 2-1 win by picking up a poor clearance by Ethnikos’ goalie and chipping him from longe range.
Joel Epalle also played in the Greek Cup starting in midfield in Iraklis’ 2-0 loss to Olympiakos.
England
It was a busy week in England’s Premier League with two rounds of matches played. Midweek in a highly entertaining and closely watched match, Lauren started at right back for Arsenal against Manchester United. Lauren gave a combative performance and was generally rated as Arsenal’s best defender on the day before being subbed out for an offensive player in the 83rd minute. It was not enough, however, as Manchester United emerged victorious 4-2. Former Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba Djemba made his debut for his new club Aston Villa coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute of his club’s 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Timothee Atouba started at left side midfield for Tottenham in their 3-1 loss to Bolton but like the rest of his teammates he struggled in the match. Joseph Desire Job came on as a sub at forward in the 66th minute of Middlesbrough’s 2-1 loss to Portsmouth but was not able to change the game.
Over the weekend, Joseph Desire Job was much more effective starting at forward in his club’s 1-0 win over Blackburn and was a constant threat throughout the match on attack. Timothee Atouba also played well, this time as a left back where his overlapping runs were dangerous as Tottenham defeated Portsmouth 3-1. Valery Mezague entered the game as a substitute in midfield for Portsmouth in the 63rd minute without much effect. Lauren had a solid game at right back as Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-1. Eric Djemba Djemba also started that match but he and the Aston Villa midfield were overwhelmed by Arsenal in that portion of the field and he was eventually replaced after 66 minutes. In the second level league called the Championship, Franco-Cameroonian Matthias Doumbe started in defense as Plymouth played a scoreless draw with Reading.
France
Cameroon’s top performer in Ligue 1 this weekend was Salomon Olembe who gave a good display at left back for Marseille in their 3-1 victory over Rennes. Olembe was solid defensively and occasionally found time to venture forward as well. On the losing side in that match was Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe who started at right back for Rennes. Like the rest of his defensive colleagues, Perrier Doumbe had trouble containing Marseille’s attack. Bad news for midfielder Jean Makoun who left Lille’s match with Sochaux after only 6 minutes due to a knee injury. Makoun is expected to be out for at least a month. Playing right back for Lille in their scoreless draw with Sochaux was Benoit Angbwa.
Lille’s draw meant they lost ground to leaders Lyon who beat Toulouse 4-0. Achille Emana started at right side midfield for Toulouse but had a disastrous game. In addition to be ineffective offensively, a poor backpass by him was intercepted by Lyon’s Malouda who scored. Henri Bedimo Nsame entered in the 72nd minute as a defensive replacement for Toulouse. Benoit Assou Ekotto started at left back for Lens in their 2-0 win over struggling PSG. Herve Tum started at forward for Metz in their 1-1 draw with Nice but had a disappointing match.
In Ligue 2 Creteil scored a 2-0 win over Sedan. Eugene Ekobo started in midfield for the victors. Pierre Njanka started at centerback for Sedan and Marcus Mokake came on as a substitute in the 88th minute for the losing team. Alexis Ngambi started at centerback for Gueugnon as they defeated Le Havre 1-0. Stephane Biakolo was at forward for LeHavre before being subbed out after 73 minutes. Gilbert Bayiha was in goal for Grenoble as they lost 1-0 to LeMans.
Germany
Lucien Mettomo started at centerback for Kaiserslautern against Stuttgart. In the 57th minute a Stuttgart attacker beat the square Kaiserslautern defense as Mettomo was slow to turn and the Cameroonian defender knocked the Stuttgart attacker down as he was getting ready to break free on goal. Consequently Mettomo was shown a red card as the last defender who prevented a clear goal scoring opportunity. Playing a man down Kaiserslautern fought back and equalized as the match ended 1-1
Raymond Kalla also started at centerback in the Bundesliga last weekend playing for Bochum against Arminia Bielefeld. Kalla had a poor game and was eventually subbed off in the 82nd minute of the 1-1 tie. In Bundesliga 2, Francis Kioyo keeps on scoring. The forward headed in a corner kick in the 84th minute of Rot Weiss Essen’s 1-1 draw with Effurt for his sixth goal of the season and fifth in his last eight matches. Cyrille Florent Bella came on as a sub at forward in the 32nd minute of Ahlen’s 2-1 loss to Unterhaching. Daniel Wansi also entered as an attacking sub coming on in the 84th minute of Dynamo Dresden’s 2-1 loss to Burghausen.
Portugal
Italy
In serie A, Pierre Wome is now a member of Brescia. He played his first game last weekend as his team, Brescia received Udinese. He could not help his team as they were beaten by a goal’s difference.
In Italy’s Serie B, Alain Bono returned to Ternana’s starting lineup after missing all of their matches post holiday break. He played at right back as Ternana drew 3-3 with Venezia. Thomas Job Iyock played at right side midfield for Pescara for 63 minutes in their 1-0 win over Treviso.
Belgium
Eric Matoukou missed Genk’s weekend game due to accumulated yellow cards but Justice Wamfor started at defensive midfield as Genk defeated La Louviere 1-0. Matthieu Assou Ekotto also started at defensive midfield but for Standard Liege as they too won 1-0 but against FC Brussels. Patrice Noukeu was another Cameroonian midfielder in action as he started for Mouscron in their 1-1 draw with Lokeren. In the 68th minute Noukeu missed an opportunity to score the go ahead goal. Samuel Ipoua entered as a sub at forward in the 65th minute of St. Trond’s 3-1 loss to Beveren.
Israel
With Ernest Etchi suspended following last week’s red card, Kalle Sone came on as a sub at forward in the 73rd minute of Bnei Sakhnin’s 2-1 loss to Maccabi Petah Tikva. Emile Mbamba also entered as a sub at forward in the 75th minute of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 2-0 loss to Ashdod.
Martin Coutler, Camfoot.com
