Europe Round-up: Taiwo wins game for HJK as Kalu Uche feature for Almeria

Taye Taiwo scores winner for HJK in Finland.

By: Obiweluozo Martins

With the end of another entertaining weekend of football in various leagues and subdivisions across Europe, there were massive games ranging from the Cup matches in England, to the derby games in Spain and Italy, we seek to highlight these games with the Nigerian players abroad in particular as we cast our mind on how the Nigerian exports fared in these massive games in Europe and how they influenced the games and contributed to a fine performance for their respective clubs as the league huts up every week.

SoccerNet Nigeria takes a look at how Nigerian players abroad fared across Europe on Sunday.

IN ENGLAND (FA CUP)
Chelsea Veteran John Obi Mikel was on the bench for the entire 90minutes of the games as Oscar inspired Chelsea to a 5-1 win over host Milton Keynes Dons with a hat-trick.

IN ITALY
Joel Obi was missing in Torino’s 0-0 draw with Hellas Verona as the mercurial midfield player is still recuperating from injury.

Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi was on the bench for the entire duration or the game as Lazio held host Udinese to a goalless stalemate (0-0)

IN SPAIN (LOWER DIVISION)
Nigerian forward Kalu Uche lasted 57minute for UD Almeria as they defeated Zaragoza 2-1.He was replaced by Antonio Rodriguez.

IN HOLLAND
Anglo-Nigerian defender Kenneth Otigba lasted the entire duration of the game as his club side SC Heerenveen defeated host Cambur FC 1-0 away from home.

Anglo-Nigerian defender Tyronne Ebuehi was on the bench for 90minutesas his club side ADO Den Haag defeated Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord 2-0 away from home.

IN BELGIUM
Nigerian striker Joseph Akpala came on for Ivorian forward Gohi Bi Cyriac in the 74thminute of the game while teammate and former flying Eagles forward Saviour Godwin was on the bench for the entire duration of the game as their club Oostende FC drew 3-3 with six Mouscron-Peruwelz in a six goal thriller.

On loan defensive midfielder Mikel Agu was not listed on match day squad as his side Club Brugge defeated FC Lokeren 2-1 courtesy of a brace from Lior Rafaelov in the 12th and 28th minute of the game respectively.

Elsewhere, Gent talented forward Moses Simon lasted 75 minute in action and was replaced by Thomas Matton as Gent defeated Waasland-Beveren 2-1 in the match.

IN PORTUGAL
Nigerian striker Uche Nwofor was on the bench for the entire duration of the game while his Boavista teammate Gabriel Reuben and Michael Uchebo was not listed in the match day squad as Boavista drew 0-0 with Sporting Braga.

PORTUGAL (LOWER DIVISION)
Braga B talented midfielder Chidi Osuchukwu lasted the distance as Braga B lost 2-0 to Aves FC with goals from Alexander Guedes and Jander in the 5th and 29th minute of the game respectively.

SCOTLAND (CUP)
Celtic central defender Efe Ambrose was given his marching order(red card)as early as in the 13th minute of the game as Scottish Giant Celtic were beaten 3-1 by Ross County.

IN FINLAND
The ester while Super Eagles Taye Taiwo converted a 70th minute penalty to hand 10 men HJK a 1-0 victory over IFK Marienhamn in the Finish cup.

IN GREECE
Olympiakos forward Aide Brown Ideye helped the Greek Giant to a 3-0 victory over PAS Giannina courtesy of a brace from Konstantinos Fortounis in the 13th and 25th minute while Jimmy Durmaz added gloss to the score line with the third goal of the match.

IN TURKEY
Rizespor’s defender Godfrey Oboabona lasted the entire duration of the match as Rizespor defeated Sivas Belediye Spor 2-0 in the Cup game.

Elsewhere John Chibuike lasted the distance for his side Gaziantepspor while teammate and reliable central defender Gbenga Arokoyo was not listed in the match day squad as Gaziantepspor lost 0-2 to Wesley Sneijder inspired Galatasaray.

IN CYPRUS
Former U-20 talented defender Ganiu Ogungbe was on from start to finish as his side Ethnikos Achnas lost to host AEK Larnaca 1-0 in the Cyprus League.

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