Nigerians Abroad: Emmanuel Emenike, Taye Taiwo and Isaac Promise score in Turkey

By Babajide Alaka

Dec 2, 2013 11:04:00 AM

The Nigerians playing in the Turkish Super Lig had a good weekend with goals for their clubs

ENGLAND

Mikel Obi came on as a substitute in the 84th minute of Chelsea's hard fought 3-1 win over Southampton on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. Mikel replaced Fernando Torres when Chelsea were leading 2-1 to help shore up the midfield. Demba Ba then scored the third goal to make it a comfortable victory. It was Mikel’s eighth league appearance in which he has scored once.  Victor Moses started in Liverpool’s 3-1 away loss to Hull City on Sunday. It was the Nigerian's first start in four league matches after Daniel Sturridge got injured in training. But it was a dismal performance from the Chelsea loanee and he was replaced in the 74th minute by Luis Alberto. Liverpool thus dropped down to fourth on the log and have to get their acts together on Wednesday when they face Norwich at home.
Moses had 84% pass completion rate from 44 touches. He committed three fouls, had one shot and succesfully completed one dribble.
Peter Odemwingie could not help Cardiff against league leaders, Arsenal on Sunday. After the heroics against Manchester United last weekend, they did not have any answer for the leaders on Saturday as they were swept aside 3-0. Odemwingie came on for Frazier Campbell in the 64th minute and his fall in the box in the 92nd led to the counter attack through which Arsenal scored their third goal. Odemwingie touched the ball 15 times with 88% pass accuracy. He completed two dribbles with no shot on target.

Victor Anichebe came on as a substitute for West Brom on Saturday as they lost 2-1 to Newcastle. Anichebe replaced Stéphane Sessegnon in the 77th minute for his fourth league apperance. Anichebe is yet to score in the league this season.

SPAIN

Ikechukwu Uche could not continue his coring spree on Friday as Villarreal were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Malaga.
In the 23rd minute, Malaga goalkeeper, Willy Caballero saved a stinging left footed shot from the centre of the box.

Uche was replaced by Hernán Pérez in the 82nd minute. He had 76% pass accuracy from 38 touches and committed two fouls. He also had two shots with one on target.
Ramon Azeez played all 90 minutes as Almeria lost away to Celta Vigo 3-1. The former junior international had 90% pass accuracy from 52 touches and committed one foul.

FRANCE

It is now 945 minutes officially since Super Eagles number one, Vincent Enyeama last conceded a goal. The Nigerian kept a consecutive 10th clean sheet to help Lille to a 1-0 away win over  Valenciennes. Enyeama and Lille have now kept an amazing 13 clean sheets in 15 Ligue 1 matches and again on Saturday, Enyeama proved to be unbeatable.

He made a save off Maor Melikson in the fourth minute of added on time to preserve his clean sheet and the three points. He will now look forward to Tuesday when Lille confront Marseille at home to see whether he can break Salvatore Sirigu's 949 minutes without conceding before aiming for the all time record of Gaetan Huard's 1176 minutes.

TURKEY

Emmanuel Emenike scored one and made one as Fenerbahce forced Besikats to a 3-3 draw on Saturday. Emenike scored the equaliser in the 12th minute and set up Moussa Sow for the second goal in the 37th. Hugo Almeida then scored a brace before Dirk Kuyt rescued a point for the league leaders in the 83rd minute. Emenike has now scored five goals in 12 league appearances. Michael Eneramo was an unused substitute for Besiktas.
Taye Taiwo scored a penalty and helped Bursaspor get a 2-1 victory over Elazigspor on Friday. The 28-year-old scored the first goal of the match in the 16th minute to record his second league goal after his transfer from Dynamo Kiev, where he was on loan from AC Milan.
Taiwo scored his first goal in the league against Sivasspor on November 9, a match that Bursaspor lost 2-1. Taiwo has played all the 13 league games for the season, completing every match. Bursaspor rose to eighth position on the league table after 13 matches.
Isaac Promise also scored his first league goal, helping Antalyaspor to a 3-0 away win over Sivasspor, for whom John Utaka played all 90 minutes. Promise scored the third goal in the 89th minute in his 10th league appearance. Antalyaspor are now ninth on the league table with 18 points.

UKRAINE

Michael Babatunde played his 12th league game for Volyn against Metalurh Donetsk on Sunday and helped his side to a 2-0 win.

Babatunde started the match but was replaced by Vitaliy Goshkoderya in the 596th minute. Babatunde has scored twice so far.

BELGIUM

Standard Liege maintained their lead at the top of the Jupiler League by beating Lierse 5-0 on Sunday. Imoh Ezekiel started and played all 90 minutes. Though he could not add to his six goals, he assisted the fifth goal for Paul-Jose Mpoku. Standard Liege are top of the leaue table with 40 points from 17 matches. Michael Uchebo started for Cercle Brugge in their 2-1 away defeat to Anderlecht on Sunday. The Nigerian, with four goals so far was taken off in the 79th minute. -------------- goal.com