Europe RoundUp: Promise hits a brace, Musa, Eneramo, Idahor also on target

In England, estranged Super Eagles striker Osaze Odemwingie came off the bench to provide the assist but failed to prevent a 2-1 home defeat as his side West Brom threw away a first half lead to capitulate to defending champions Manchester City. Odemwingie replaced Scottish international Graham Dorrans in the 63rd minute and three minutes later, he teed off Shane Long to put the hosts in the lead before two late goals from Edin Dzeko ended their brief unbeaten run. That was his second game since he came back from his three-match suspension due to a red card. He has thus far appeared five times in the league and scored once.

Still in England, there was never short supply of presence and action for the Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel in the Chelseas team that hit hosts Spurs 4-2 in the London derby on Saturday. Though, he still sought for his Chelsea first goal, he kept things moving in the Blues’ midfield. He was as usual, in action for 90 minutes. He has thus far played all the eight league games and surprisingly yet to enter into the referees’ books. Mikel has helped maintain top spot for the Blues as they keep a 100 percent record in the Premiership.

However, it was not the same for his compatriot, Victor Moses , who was dumped in the substitutes’ bench for the entire duration of the game. He had earlier grabbed his first goal on Blues’ colours in 6-0 demolition of Wolves in the League Cup last month. He has however, played only three times in the league for his new club thus far this season. The former Wigan who netted his a brace for Eagles, his first his country, was expected to re-enact his killer form for Eagles a week ago in Calabar as Eagles whitewashed  Liberia 6-1 to book their ticket to the 2013 African Nations Cup, but coach Roberto di Matteo didn’t figure him in his plans..

In France, John Utaka returned for Montpellier’s away trip at Rennes after missing three games due to hip and thing complaint. The former Portsmouth striker made a 54th minute entry as Montepellier continued their unimpressive title defence with yet another loss as the visitors compounded their misery with a 2-1 victory. Having missed three games due to injury, Utaka was playing his fifth game for the champions.

On the winning side was former youth international Onyekachi Apam, who stood like a bastion in the heart of Rennes defence. He was on for 90 minutes as he helped tidy things up at the rear. The former Enugu Rangers defender, who only recently returned from injury, has thus far played two times for his club.

 In Belgium, Derrick Ogbu was surprisingly not among the goal scorers as his side OH Leuven stunned even themselves by beating Club Brugge at home 4-1 on Saturday. Ogbu, the team’s top scorer last season, only broke his goal scoring duck two weeks ago and was expected to continue where he left off but it was the Belgian Jupiler League top scorer Ibou Sawaneh that stole the show by netting a hat trick to increase his tally to 11 goals. Ogbu was however, pulled out at the start of second half. The former Qatar-based striker has thus far played all the 11 league games so far and gone into the referees’ books thrice.

In Germany, on loan striker Tony Ujah continued to grab the headlines in the second division for FC Koln as he hit the target for the third time in a row on Saturday, to help his side beat Jahn Regensburg 3-2 . Ujah, on loan from Mainz 05, struck in the 87th minute t pull one back for the visitors after the hosts had opened a 2-0 lead. Two more late goals ensured victory for the visitors. Ujah, frozen out of first team selection at Mainz, has thus far scored three goals in six appearances for his new team.

In Spain, Obafemi Martins was from start to finish for his new club Levante as they beat Getafe 1-0 yesterday. The former Inter Milan star, who joined Levante on a free, has thus far scored twice in four appearances. He has also got one caution thus far.

 In Russia, Super Eagles flying winger Ahmed Musa continued his scoring ways for CSKA Moscow, netting the winner in their 2-0 victory on over Rubin Kazan yesterday. The former Kano Pillars flying winger benefitted from a pass from Latvian midfielder Aleksandrs CauÅ�a to put the icing on the cake for the hosts. CSKA had gone into the lead in the 69th minute before the Super Eagles winger finished off the visitors, to increase his tally to five goals thus far. He’s also in the top 10 list of top scorers in the Russian Premier League. He has incurred the referees’ wrath once in 11 league outings thus far.

In Ukraine, Michael Odibe has continued to stamp his authority in the heart of defence for second-placed Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk but was on the losing side as they lost 3-2 to Zorya on Saturday. The on-loan central defender was on for start to finish, making his eighth league appearance thus far. He is arguably one of the neatest defenders in the Ukrainian Premier League, going the referees’ books once.

It was however as good as it got for another Nigerian Lucky Idahor, who scored once to help Zorya beat Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. The Benin-born striker sealed the victory for the home team in the 64th minute and was replaced in the 80th minute for his well spent sweat. Idahor had gone five games without scoring before he netted his third goal of the season last Saturday. He has thus far played 11 league games.

Still in Ukraine, Both striker Brown Ideye and left back Taye Taiwo were on for 90 minutes for Dynamo Kiev as they were beaten 3-1 at home by Metalist Kharkiv. Ideye, who had gone three league games without scoring, also fired blanks in the disappointing loss. He has yet to score since he last scored in their 3-1 victory over Karpaty in September 14. He’s still the second top scorer with eight goals. He has also played all the 12 league games thus far this season. Taiwo was flashed a yellow card in the 51st minute, his only blemish thus far,  as he made his ninth appearance for his on-loan side.

In Turkey, former Esperance of Tunisia striker Mike Eneramo hit the target for Sivaspor but failed to prevent a 4-2 loss at Promise Isaac’s Antalyaspor on Saturday. Eneramo evened scored in the 48th minute as the game stood at 2-2 before the hosts put two more goals to run away with the victory. He has now scored five goals thus far in nine league appearances to be among the top five leading scorers in the Turkish top flight.

Former youth International Isaac scored twice in the game to help Antalyaspor beat Sivaspor. Isaac, who returned from a three-game suspension due to a red card, struck in the 41st minute to take a 2-1 lead before the break. He sealed the victory in the 86th minute after his side had gone ahead 3-2 in the 56th minute. He has thus far scored three goals in six league appearances for his team.

Kalu Uche failed to add to his five goals as his side Kasimpasa drew 2-2 with Nduka Ozokwor’s Mersin Idmanyurdu yesterday. He was on for 90 minutes. He has appeared in all eight games this season, starting in six and getting introduced in two. He’s currently the second top scorer in the Turkish Super League. Ozokwor was replaced in the 86th minute. He’s yet to score for his team. He has played seven times in the league thus far.