GHANAIAN PLAYERS ABROAD

With the major European leagues coming to an end, Ghanaian players abroad maintain their impetus for the various clubs. SPORTS LOUNGE Frank Darkwah brings you a vivid detail on how Ghanaians playing abroad fared over the weekend.

ENGLAND

Derrick Owusu Boateng was not included in the Fulham team that drew 2-2 at home with Hull City.

In the Championship, Jeffery Schulpp was missing from the Leicester City squad that won 2-0 over Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium. Winger Albert Adomah enjoyed full throttle in Middlesbrough 3-1 win over Barnsley at home. Emmanuel Frimpong was however missing from the Barnsley set up. Seth Ofori-Twumasi was on the substitute bench Yeovil Town who lost 2-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion.

In League One, Abdul Osman could not make the Crew Alexandra team when they went away to draw 0-0 with Bristol City. David Amoo played 90 min for Carlisle when they lost 1-0 to Oldham Athletic at home. Curtis Obeng made way in the 46^th min in Stevenage 3-2 win over Walsall.

In League two, Kwasi Appiah was named in the starting lineup of AFC Wimbledon and played full 90 min when they lost 0-3 at home to Morecambe. Fellow Ghanaian team mate Will Antwi warmed the Wimbledon. Patrick Agyemang was a second half substitute in Portsmouth’s 4-4 away draw with Bury. Abu Ogogo was booked in the 72^nd min and played the full game for Dagenham & Redbridge in their 3-0 humiliation to Northampton town at home.

In the English Conference, defender Kelvin Amankwaah played 89min for Salisbury City who drew 2-2 away at Chester City

SPAIN

In the Primera Division, Fatau Mohammed was a bench warmer in Granada’s 0-3 loss to Rayo Vallecano. Richmond Boakye-Yiadom scored his fifth goal of the season for Elche in the 63^rd min and was replaced in the 75^th min when Elche drew 1-1 at home with Levente.

In the segunda Division, Thomas Partey was very instrumental in the Mallorca midfield but could not help his side avoid a narrow 1-0 defeat to Alaves.

ITALY

Sulley Muntari was booked in the 33^rd min and was replaced by countryman Micheal Essien 25 min later as AC Milan succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. Godfred Donsah could not get any min of time in Hellas Verona’s 4-0 triumph over Catania. Kingsley Boateng was an unused substitute for Catania. Alfred Duncan played 90min for Livorno when they lost 2-0 at home to Lazio. Emmanuel Agyemang Badu was booked in the 28^th min before being sacrificed for Piotr Zielinski in the 45^th min when Udinesi lost 2-0 to Torino. Italian born Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Gyasi was not included in the Torino team. Isaac Cofie could not feature for Genoa when they took on Atalanta.

In Serie B, Cesena lost 3-0 at home to Brescia. Moro Alhassan watched from the bench for Cesena while Isaac Ntow could not make the Brescia match day squad. In other games former under 20 left back Masahudu Alhassan got booked and played full game for Latina who lost 1-3 to Palermo at home. Acosty Boadu- Maxwell was an unused substitute in Carpi’s 0-0 draw with Siena.

GERMANY

Karim Bellarabi came on to play the second 45min for Eintracht Braunschweig. Kelvin-Prince Boateng was a full timer when Schalke lost 1-0 to Borussia Monchengladbach at home. Anthony Annan was on the Schalke bench.

In the Bundesliga 2, Charles Takyi was sent off in the 43^rd min after receiving his second bookable offends when Energie Cottbus lost 3-1 away at FSV Frankfurt. Abdul Baba Rahman was on the bench when SpVgg Greuther Furth was beaten 2-1 at home by TSV 1860 Munich at Trolli Arena.

FRANCE

Jonathan Mensah was named in the starting eleven of Evian who lost 2-1 at home to St Etienne. Striker Abdul Majeed Waris made an injury return to the Valenciennes team that lost 1-0 to Guingamp. Hard working John Boye was in full action for Stade Rennes who were held 1-1 at home by Lorient.  Marseille talisman Andre Ayew played full throttle they drew one all with Nantes. Jordan Ayew helped Sochaux grab a point at home when they drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain

In Ligue 2, Kwame Nsor watched from the stands when Metz took on AJ Auxerre as his side Metz won 3-0.

BELGIUM

Versatile Nana Kwasi Asare was in action for KAA Gent when they managed a 1-1 draw game with KV Oostende. Abraham Kudermo was introduced in the 80^th min and scored when Royal Charleroi SC won 3-0 at home over Mechelen. Abdul Iddi Yakini was missing from the Mechelen squad. Bernard Yao Kumordzi played the entire duration as Genk was able to hold Zulte-Waregem to a 2-2 draw at the Regenboogstadion. Frank Acheampong was on the bench for Anderlecht in their 2-1 victory over Standard Liege. Daniel Opare was a second half substitute for Liege. Jerry Vandam was also in action for KSC Lokeren who lost 1-3 at home to Club Brugge.

SWITZERLAND

Ishmeal Yartey and Ebenezer Assifuah helped Sion to beat FC Aarau 2-0 at home. Samuel Afful was still out due to injury when his team Young Boys managed a 1-0 away win at Lausanne Sports.

USA

Dominic Oduro came on in the 68^th min for Columbus Crew who drew 1-1 with New York Red Bull. Lyod Sam was in full action for Red Bull. Gershon Koffie played the entire duration for Vancouver Whitecaps who went away to draw 2-2 with Real Salt Lake.

SOUTH AFRICA

Abdul Basit came on and scored in the 87^th min in Free State Stars 2-3 home loss to Mpumalanga Black Aces. Goalkeeper Daniel Agyei was the substitute goalkeeper for Free State. Ghana’s number one Abdul Fatau Dauda was on the bench for Orlando Pirates in their 1-1 draw with Silver Stars at the Pirates stadium.

SWEDEN

Midfielder Samuel Mensah was an unused substitute when his Orebro SK outfit ended their winless streak after beating Atvidabergs FF in the Swedish Allsvenskanliga. Mohammed Abubakar was not included in the Atvidabergs team. Daniel Amartey was booked in the 21^st min and was substituted 11min later when Djurgarden beat Brommapojkarna 3-2 at home. Yusif Chibsah was not in the Djurgarden team. Former Right to Dream Academy graduate David Accam scored in the 57^th and 61^st min and was substituted in the 88^th min when Helsinborg beat Mjallby 3-1 at home. Defender Kwame Bonsu was in action for Mjallby and was substituted in the 81^st min. Two Ghanaian started for either side in the game between BK Hacken and AIK.Both Walid Atta and Nasiru Mahammed stated for Hacken while former under 20 left back Ebenezer Ofori and Robin Quaison also started for AIK.

SCOTLAND

Daniel Boateng was on the bench when Hibernian lost 1-2 to Heart of Midothian at the Easter Road Stadium. Prince Buaben made way in the 46^th min in Partick Thistle 1-1 with St Mirren.

NETHERLAND

Elvis Manu limped off in the 33^rd min after sustaining an injury when his side Cambuur Leeuwarden was humiliated at home by Feyenood Rotterdam as they lost 5-1. Jeffery Sarpong watched from the bench for NAC Breda when they drew 1-1 with RKC Waalwijk. Midfielder Mitch Apau enjoyed the entire duration for Waalwijk. Shadrach Eghan came on in the 75^th min to urge Twente Enschede beat NEC Nijmegen 5-2. Fred Benson came on in the 72^nd min for PEC Zwolle who lost 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven at home. Kwame Quansah started and played full 90min for Heracles Almelo in their 1-1 draw with Ajax Amsterdam. Edwin Gyasi and Mathew Amoah were bench warmers for Heracles. Christian Atsu set up the second goal for Vitessi when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Go Ahead Eagles. 20 year old Mawouna Kodjo Amevor was on the GAE bench.

In the Eerste Divisie, Erixon Danso played 68min for Dordrecht who shared spoils with Sparta Rotterdam as the game ended 0-0. Jonathan Opoku was in full time action for Fortuna Sittard who went away to pick a point as they drew 1-1 with FC Emmen VV.

RUSSIA

Mubarak Wakasu came on to play the last 15min for Rubin Kazan who lost 2-1 to CSKA Moscow

TURKEY

Evergreen Jerry Akaminko was in the heart of defense for Eskirsehirspor who lost narrowly by 1-0 to Erciyesspor.

NORWAY

Mahatma Otoo scored in Sognal 3-0 win over Haugesund in the Norwegian top flight.

EGYPT

John Antwi scored his 10^th goal for Ismaily when they lost 3-2 to Tala El Geish at home.

 DENMARK

Denish born Ghanaian Kelvin Mensah scored the second goal for Viborg who conquered AGF 3-0 in the Denish Superliga.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi

MEDEAMA CRUSHED OUT OF CAF CONFEDERATION CUP; LOST ON PENALTIES

Ghana’s lone representative in Africa Medeama SC were crushed out of the CAF Confederation cup on Sunday afternoon after losing 5-6 on penalties to 2012 Champions AC Leopards of Congo.

The Mauves who were fervent to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the first league were unable to get a goal in the first half of the game after dominating. The Ghanaian side had the opportunity to put themselves in front after they were awarded a penalty just 7min into the game only for Midfielder Micheal Helegbe to blow it away.

After dominating the first 45min, the game ended goalless. Back from recess, Medeama did not leave any stone unturned as they kept on fighting for the opening goal. But it was goalkeeper Muntari Tagoe who broke the deadlock in the 74^th min when he perfectly converted a penalty kick after striker Nathaniel Asamoah had been brought down in the 18 yard box.

The Mauves however got their second goal 5min later when midfielder Hans Koffie blasted home a shot from 35 yards to give Medeama a 2-0 lead making the aggregate score 2-2.

Medeama could have got the winning goal in the dying embers of the game after substitute Theophilous Annobah took on two defenders and laid a nice pass to Kwame Boahene in the 18 yard box only for the midfielder to blow it over the bar. 

After 3min of additional time, the game had to be decided on penalty shootouts. Goalkeeper Muntari Tagoe, Hans Koffie, Theophilous Annobah, Victor Ayire and Nathaniel Asamoah all converted their kicks. With Henry Enchill and Joseph Jackson missing their kicks which eventually denied the Ghanaian side a place at the group stage.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi

NATIONAL MIDDLE LEAGUE: OLYMPICS BEAT ISTANBUL, FAYENOOD PIP WISE, TEMA YOUTH TAME OKWAWU

The National middle league took place over the weekend recording some interesting results.

At the Tema Park, a second half goal by Striker Samuel Tetteh saw Gomoa Fetteh Fayenood beat Sekondi Eleven Wise 1-0 to pick all three points.

Elsewhere at the Obuasi Stadium, Micheal Ampadu opened the scoring for Okwawu United in the 12^th min before Nicholas Odjea drew Tema Youth on level terms 9min later. 

Substitute Fusieni Mensah got the match winner 5min to end proceeding to earn Tema Youth a vital 3points.

Accra Great Olympics managed to secure themselves with the three points at stake when they beat Istanbul 2-1 at the Kumasi Babayara Sports Stadium. Sualla and former Hearts of Oak midfielder Abraham Annan got the two goals for Gt. Olympics while Istanbul striker Eric Agyemang got the consolation for his side.

On Friday, Bibieni Gold Stars also managed to beat Dunkwa United 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi

BOAKYE YIADOM STRIKES TO EARN ELCH 1-1 DRAW AT HOME

Ghana striker Richmond Boakye Yiadom scored on Friday night when his side Elche was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Levente.

The Ghanaian international struck just after the hour mark to put Elche on course for a deserve win after dominating the entire duration. But Levente responded well to going a goal down with Rodriguez’s equalizer ensuring a 1-1 draw at the Martinez Valero.

The 21 year old Juventus loanee however made way in the 75^th min for 23 year old Spanish forward Chritaian Herrara.

The goal makes it Boakye-yiadom’s fifth of the season for the Los Franjiverdes.

The draw moves Elche four points clear of the Primera Division relegation Zone.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi