Round-up of Ghanaian players abroad

ITALY

Kwadwo Asamoah remains the only Juventus player to have featured in every Serie A game this season and even as he did not start last Saturday’s Turin derby, the Ghanaian playmaker came off the bench after 60 minutes to power Juventus to a 3-0 win over Torino to stretch their lead at the top of the standings.

Earlier on Friday, Kevin Prince Boateng captained Milan, scored his first goal of the season to give them a 2-1 lead before getting sent off in an eventual 3-1 victory for the Rossoneri away to Catania for whom 20 year old Accra born midfielder, Amidu Salifu who is on loan from Fiorentina made his first start of the season and lasted 72 minutes before being substituted.

In Sunday’s fixtures, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu was in action for the whole game as Udinese beat Cagliari 4-1, Afriyie Acquah who enjoyed his first full 90 minutes in Parma’s upset win over Inter Milan last week, watched from the stands as they lost 2-1 at Lazio, youngster Joseph Duncan was only on the bench for Inter Milan as they beat Palermo 1-0 whilst 18 year old Isaac Coffie played the entire duration for Chievo Verona in their impressive 4-2 win at Genoa.

In Serie B, Richmond Boakye Yiadom lasted the entire duration of the game but surprisingly didn’t score and compatriot Yusif Rahman Chibsah came on as an 85th minute substitute for Sassuolo who thrice came from behind to draw 3-3 at Bari and maintain their top place on the league table after 17 games.

Maxwell Boadu Acosty was replaced at halftime and compatriot Daniel Agyei came on for the last five minutes for Juve Stabia in their 1-1 home draw against Citadella. Both Acosty and Agyei are on loan at the Serie B side from Fiorentina.

SPAIN

Mubarak Wakaso lasted 73 minutes before he was substituted 2 minutes after he was yellow-carded as Espanyol once again failed to win, holding fellow strugglers Granada to a goalless draw that nevertheless still keeps them rooted to the bottom of La Liga, now on 10 points.

Anthony Annan’s Osasuna finally moved out of the bottom 3 after beating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 on Saturday but both sides did not feature any of their Ghanaian players.

Annan who has been warming the Osasuna bench for some time now, was completely left out of the match day squad whilst Manchester City loanee, Michael Abu who has played just one game and a total of 58 minutes all season, once again could not even make the bench for Rayo.

The injured Michael Essien was again absent for Real Madrid who returned to winning ways by beating city rivals, Atletico 2-0.

ENGLAND

Emmanuel Frimpong was relegated to the bench for Charlton in their Championship game against Millwall which ended goalless.

Albert Adomah played all 90 minutes but could not help Bristol City avoid a 4-1 loss at home to Wolves but Prince Buabeng’s Watford misery continued after the striker was again absent in their 4-1 win over Barnsley that kept them in the play-offs places.

FRANCE

Both Ayew brothers played the entire duration of the game as Andre scored the winner for Marseille in their 2-1 victory at Brest to go within 2 points of new Ligue 1 leaders, Lyon who thrashed Marseille 4-1 on their own Marseille turf in midweek. Rabiu Mohammed was again on for all 90 minutes for EvianTG who let slip a first half lead to draw 1-1 at home with rock bottom side, Nancy whilst John Boye played for 62 minutes before he was substituted for Rennes who came from two goals down to beat Troyes 3-2 away, their second successive victory over the same side after knocking the out of the French Cup in midweek.

BELGIUM

Rahim Ayew played all 90 minutes whilst Cofie Bekoe lasted 82 minutes before he was substituted but they could not help Lierse suffer a 3-0 home defeat to Mons that keeps them in the relegation zone on a paltry 16 points from 18 games.

Albert Kudemor was on for Sporting Chaleroi all 90 minutes as they powered to a 2-0 victory over Kortrijk to move out of the drop zone whilst Abdul-Yajinu Iddi played all 90 minutes and was only substituted 2 minutes into injury time in Mechelen’s 1-1 draw at Club Brugge.

HOLLAND

Kwame Quansah lasted all game for Almelo Heracles in their 0-2 loss at Groningen who also had on full game action, Johan Kapelhoff who is believed to have Ghanaian roots. Nana Kwesi Asare was again in action for 90 minutes for Utrecht in as they beat AZ 2-1 whereas Mattew Amoah remained absent for Heerenveen.