Utaka At The Double; Kalu On Target; Frustrating Day For Ajayi, Iheanacho

Samuel Kalu was handed his third start of the French Ligue 1 season by head coach Gasset. And the Nigerian winger duly rewarded his manager with a fine first-half strike as Bordeaux edged Reims 3-0 at the Stade Matmut-Atlantique on Sunday afternoon. 

Oudin got the home side going after just eleven minutes before Kalu netted his second of the campaign just before the half-hour mark. Basic’s late effort sealed the win, Les Girondins second of the season. 

Fellow Nigeria international Josh Maja also played the first 63 minutes of the game while Kalu was hauled off after 77 minutes.

Another Nigerian on target on Sunday is Peter Utaka, the former international grabbing a brace to power Kyoto Sanga to a fine 2-1 victory away to Jubilo Iwata in Japan’s J-League 2.

Ogawa gave the hosts the lead within the first six minutes of the tie, but Utaka equalized for the visitors on the hour-mark.

The 36-year-old then smashed home his 17th goal of an incredible campaign in the closing stages of the encounter.

It was, however, a disappointing day for the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Semi Ajayi, whose clubs suffered defeats in the English Premier League.

Iheanacho was a 64th-minute substitute, but his introduction could not stop Leicester City from falling to a surprising 3-0 loss to West Ham United at the King Power Stadium.

Goals from Antonio, Pablo Fornals, and Bowen wrecked the damage on the Foxes.

Semi Ajayi was once again on the losing side as Djenepo, and Romeu strikes in either half helped Southampton to a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at the St. Mary’s Stadium.

West Brom are yet to keep a clean sheet this term and have recorded just one point, scrapped from their 3-3 draw against Chelsea last week.