Lions in Club: Samuel Eto’o Scores Game Winner For Barcelona

In the busiest week yet of the new year, Samuel Eto’o grabbed the headlines in Spain by scoring the match winning goal for Barcelona. Joel Epalle in Greece and Matthieu Assou Ekotto in Belgium debuted for their new clubs. Eto’o Fils scores by a marvellous header for the first time this season, his 14th goal in la Liga.

Spain

Samuel Eto’o started at forward for Barcelona against Real Sociedad but was often forced to play on the left side of the Catalan club’s attack as Ronaldinho would often occupy the space of the team’s center forward. Eto’o is less comfortable when he has to play on the left side but still was able to pop up and cause danger for Real Sociedad’s defense. In the 4th minute Barcelona was awarded a penalty kick and Eto’o took it but his spot kick crashed aginst the left post and rebounded out of danger. Despite the miss, Eto’o later in the match cut in from the right and from a tight angle once again brushed the post. Finally in the 81st minute of the match, Xavi took a corner kick for Barcelona from the left side, Rafael Marquez flicked it on with his head at the near post and running in to leap and meet the ball with his head and knock it into the net was Samuel Eto’o who scored his 14th goal of the season. Barcelona’s 1-0 win allowed it to maintain it’s 7 point lead over Real Madrid.

Carlos Kameni started in goal for Espanyol in their 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao. Bilbao scored in the 3rd minute but Kameni helped keep them off the scoreboard the rest of the game and allowed his team to earn a draw at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium, one of the most difficult places to play in Spain.

Pierre Webo started at forward for Osasuna in their scoreless draw with defending champions Valencia. Webo had a few shining moments before he was substituted out of the match in the 74th minute. The game unfortunately was overshadowed by the tragic death, earlier in the day, of the baby daughter of Valencia’s defender Marco Caneira.

Greece

Joel Epalle signed a 1 1/2 year contract during the week with Iraklis, one of three clubs in the Greek First Division from the city of Salonika. Epalle used to play for Aris, another of the city’s clubs, and Guy Feutchine currently is with PAOK, the city’s biggest club. Epalle started this week for Iraklis playing at attacking midfield in their match against Olympiakos, which until they had 3 points deducted this week for crowd violence, was the Greek league leaders. Epalle left in the 66th minute of a match which Olympiakos eventually won 1-0. Yet the fact Epalle started for Iraklis after only several days of practice with his new teammates is an encouraging sign.

Across town Guy Feutchine started at right side midfield for PAOK as they were surprisingly defeated 2-1 by Egaleo. Goalie Pierre Ebede did not play this week for Chalkidona as he was suspended as a result of last week’s red card.

Belgium

The league season resumed in Belgium after the year end break. Franco-Cameroonian defensive midfielder Mathieu Assou Ekotto moved to Standard Liege from La Louviere during that break. This past weekend Assou Ekotto started in midfield for his new club in their 4-1 victory over Lierse. Like the rest of his new midfield partners at Standard, Assou Ekotto played a very good game.

Justice Wamfor at defensive midfield and Eric Matoukou at centerback both started for Racing Genk and gave their usual solid display in their club’s 3-1 win over FC Brussels. Patrice Noukeu also started at midfield this week for Mouscron but his club were beaten 2-0 by Anderlecht. Forward Jeremie Njock was not able to debut for his new club Mons as his international clearance has not yet arrived from his previous club in Romania.

In the Belgian 2nd Division, forward Emmanuel Kenmogne came off the bench in the 55th minute for his club Tubize and scored his club’s final goal in the 79th minute of their 3-1 win over Vise.

France

It was a busy week of league action in France as matches were played midweek and over the last weekend. In midweek play, Achille Emana stood out in Ligue 1. He started at right side midfield and set up both of Toulouse’s goals in their 2-1 win over Strasbourg. Marseille’s 2-1 win over 2nd place Lille was a battle of Cameroonians. Salomon Olembe started at left wing back for the winners while Jean Makoun was in central midfield for Lille. Benoit Assou Ekotto had an average game at left back for Lens as his club drew 0-0 with St. Etienne. Herve Tum struggled at forward for Metz before being subbed out after 86 minutes of his club’s 1-0 win over Ajaccio. Alexandre Song started at centerback and played very well for Bastia in their scoreless draw with Nantes.

Midweek in Ligue 2, Bertin Tokene grabbed the headlines amongst Cameroon’s players. He started at centerback and scored a rare goal for Grenoble as they defeated Niort 5-1. Gilbert Bayiha also played for Grenoble as the club’s goalkeeper in their win. Sedan’s good form continued as they beat Ligue 2 leaders Nancy 2-0. Cameroonians Marcus Mokake (forward) and Pierre Njanka (defender) came on as a subs in their win in the 74th and 89th minutes respectively. Centerback Alexis Ngambi again was at the heart of Gueugnon’s defense in their 2-0 victory over Clemront. Eugene Ekobo started in midfield for Creteil as they lost 1-0 to LeMans. Martin Ekani started at centerback for Angers in their 2-1 loss to Montpellier. Forward Stephane Biakolo made his debut for his new club LeHavre after moving there from Niort. Biakolo started in his club’s 1-0 win over Amiens.

Over the weekend in Ligue 1, teenager Alexandre Song continued to impress at centerback for Bastia but his club is struggling as they lost 1-0 to Corsican rivals Ajaccio. Song has made centerback his position with the club after beginning the year at defensive midfield. He was graded as the best of the match by French sports newspaper L’Équipe. Jean Makoun gave a solid display in midfield for Lille as they beat Bordeaux 3-1. Salomon Olembe also did well for Marseille as their left wing back in their 2-1 southern France derby win over Nice. Doing less well this weekend were Herve Tum who started at forward for Metz in their 2-0 loss to league leaders Lyon and Achille Emana at right side midfield for Toulouse in their scoreless tie with PSG.

In Ligue 2, Eugene Ekobo was in midfield as his club Creteil upset Gueugnon 3-0. Alexis Ngambi started at centerback for the losing team. Gilbert Bayiha in goal and Bertin Tokene in central defense once again started for Grenoble as they beat Amiens 2-0. Stephane Biakolo was at forward for LeHavre in their 1-0 win over Clermont. Julien N’Da was the left back for Niort in their 1-1 tie with Brest and Marcus Mokake started at forward before being subbed out after 74 minutes as Sedan were defeated 4-0 by Guingamp.

England

With injuries to Lauren and Timothee Atouba, Cameroon’s starters in England’s Premier League were minimal this weekend. Only Middlesbrough’s Joseph Desire Job saw action starting at forward, but being deprived of much service from his team-mates, in his club’s 1-1 draw with Everton. In the 2nd level league the Championship, Mathias Doumbe started at centerback for Plymouth in their 1-0 loss to Gillingham. Midweek Eric Djemba Djemba started at defensive midfield for Manchester United in their League Cup game against Chelsea. Djemba Djemba had an acceptable match before being subbed out after 61 minutes of the scoreless tie.

Scotland

Gustave Bahoken started at left back over the weekend for Livingston as his club were beaten 2-0 by Hibernian in Scottish Premier League play. Midweek Livingston had a make up date for their Scottish FA Cup match and Bahoken started at centerback as the club beat Morton 2-1.

Portugal

In Portugal, centerback Yohanna Buba had an unlucky day turning a shot into his club’s own net as Estoril were beaten 2-1 by Maritimo. Albert Meyong started at forward and played 74 minutes for Vitoria Setubal as they were defeated by Belenenses 2-1. Rudolph Douala did not play over the weekend as he was nursing an inflamed adductor muscle, an injury which has been bothering him for the past several months.

Italy

With Thomas Job Iyock suspended and Alain Bono injured, Antonio Ghomsi was the only Cameroonian who played this weekend in Italy’s Serie B. Ghomsi started at centerback for Salernitana in their 1-1 draw with Crotone.

By Martin COUTLER, martin@camfoot.com

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