NAIJA PLAYERS EXPLOITS ABROAD........WRITTEN BY ABAYOMI ADEMETAN AND AYODELE FASUSI

Celtic assured themselves of the 2012/2013 SPL title with a three-nil home win against visiting Hibernian. Former Kaduna United and Ashdod SC star Efe Ambrose was a useful addition to the Glasgow side. He lasted the war.


Standard Liege were held to a goalless draw by bitter rivals Anderlecht. The Jupiler League Playoff Championship Group match was played at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne Arena. 2013 FIFA World Youth Championship hopeful Imoh Ezekiel fired blanks and was substituted in the 71^st minute of action.

Real Betis dismissed Granada 5-1 in a Liga BBVA clash played on Friday. Nigerian duo Nosahare Igiebor(Betis) and Odion Jude Ighalo got a feel of the action.

Sogndal succumed 4-0 to the attacking machine of Rosenborg BK. The winning outfit introduced John Chibuike in the 77th minute.
 

Cercle Bruges depended on the physical presence of Michael Uchebo to pip Germinal Beerschot AC one-nil at the Jan Breydel  Stadion on Saturday. The former Enugu Rangers striker made way for Mushaga Bakenga in the 89^th minute of play. Also in action was Funsho Ojo whose introduction almost forced a draw for Beerschot.

Dalian Aerbin took a significant step towards mounting a surge for the Chinese Super League shield with a slim 1-0 success over a tough Wuhan Zall side at the Xinhua Road Sports Center on Saturday. Super Eagles forward Peter Utaka set-up Malian skipper Seydou Keita for the only goal of the match in the 77^th minute of action.

Gabriel Melkam’s Qindao Jonoon  and Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s Guangzhou R&F settled for a 1-1 draw at the Qindao Tiantai Stadium. Yakubu netted with a clinical finish in the 34^th minute to put the away side ahead, cutting from the left side of the area unmarked to release a low shot into the opposite area past Jonoon’s goalkeeper. Former Stationary Stores, Kwara United and Hansa Rostock midfielder Melkam had other ideas as he equalized for the home side in the 77^th minute after a scramble in the box.  The two Nigerians lasted the entire duration of the match.

Rabiu Afolabi was substituted in the 32^nd minute with an ankle injury in Sonderjyske’s two-nil home loss to Midtjylland. The highlight of the match was Rilwan Hassan’s assist to Sylvester Igboun which resulted in the first goal of the encounter. The assist maker put a icing on the cake with the winning strike in the 88^th minute. He made way for Pione Sisto in the 90^th minute. Midfield general  Izunna Uzochukwu did a perfect job shielding the back-four.

Southampton boosted their survival surge with a 2-0 win against Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Nigerian-born lad Hope Akpan was substituted in the 46^th minute of action. He looked slow and tired in his approach to the game.

At the Saint Andrews, Birmingham City couldn’t  hold on to their slender lead against Millwall, playing-out a 1-1 draw. Former QPR and Watford centre-back Danny Shittu continued to show pundits of the why he is still relevant to the game, with another clinical display at the back-line of the visitors.

The inclusion of Sammy Ameobi was not enough to prevent Middlesbrough from going down one-nil to Hull City at the Kingston Communications Stadium. Omotsone Aluko was not listed for action by the home side.

At the Weston Homes Community Stadium, Leyton Orient fell 2-1 to Colchester United. Emerging right-back Moses Odubajo lasted the length, while his compatriot Afolabi Obafemi was an 84^th minute substitute.

Montpellier were too good for visiting Valenciennes, winning 3-1 at the Stade De La Mosson. Enugu-bred forward John Chukwudi Utaka wasn’t at his best in the colours of the current Ligue 1 champions. He made way for Gaetan Charbonnier in the 46^th minute of play.

The Ligat-Al playoff champions group match between Ironi Ramat Hasharon  and Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv ended 3-0 in favour of Yehuda. Former Kwara Stars and Enyimba International FC goalie Dele Aiyenugba made 6 point blank saves and sent an SOS letter to Stephen Okechukwu Keshi on a recall to the current Super Eagles set-up.

The Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel lived up to it billing at the Bloomfield Stadium. Super Eagles number one goalie Vincent Enyeama was booed by fans of his former club. Maccabi Tel Aviv won 2-0 on Saturday.

IK Start and Tromso ended their league encounter two goals apiece. Former youth prodigy Solomon James Owello was the star of the match with his deft touches and industry. The ex- Niger Tornadoes playmaker lasted the length and was named man-of-the-match.

Ten-man Jagiellonia Bialystok held-on to pip Pogon FC 1-0 on Saturday. One-cap Super Eagles defender Ugo Ukah was brought-on in the 83^rd minute to shore up the defence of the winning team. He played to instruction and gave a good account  of himself.

At Lokomotiv Stadium, home side Lokomotiv Moscow were forced to a 1-1 draw by visiting Terek Grozny. Former Inter Milan, Malaga, Chievo, West Ham and Enyimba forward Victor Obinna Nsofor was a menace to Terek’s back-line. He earned a 78^th minute yellow card and lasted the entire duration.

Ponferradina fell one nil to Las Palmas at the Estadio El Toralin on Saturday. 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup topscorer Chrisantus Macauley thread the pass for Thierry Bifouma in the 90^th minute for the game’s only goal.

Galatasaray compounded the woes of Mersin with a 3-1 win at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Komleski Turk Telekom. Raheem Adewole Lawal was yellow-carded in the 21^st minute and made way for Eren Tozlu in the 74^th minute by the losing team. However, Nduka Ozokwo was on for 90 minutes.

At the Ataturk Stadi, Istanbul Buyuksehir shared the spoils with Karabukspor, battling to a 2-2 draw on Saturday. Former Samsunspor, Nancy and Strassburg forward Simon Terwase Zenke contributed his quota to his Buyuksehir’s  quests. He made way for Tevfik Kose on the hour mark.

Former Kwara United midfielder Seyi George Olofinjana was on for 90 minutes for Sheffield Wednesday. The forgotten Super Eagles star picked-up a 67^th minute booking as his club defeated Blackburn Rovers 3-2 at Hillsborough.

Super Eagles forward Kalu Uche capped his return to Stephen Keshi’s team with a goal in the colours of Kasimpasa. The strike was his 17^th of the season in the Turkish Super League. It was not a good day for his club as they fell to Promise Isaac’s  Antalyaspor  3-2. Kalu was on for the entire length, while former Manisaspor star Promise was substituted in the 87^th minute of play.

At Route de Lorient, league leaders  Paris Saint Germain were too good for Onyekachi Apam and Ejike Uzoenyi’s Stade Rennes. Versatile defender Apam was on the bench for the entire duration of the match, which the visitors won 2-0. Super Eagles winger Uzoenyi was not listed for the encounter.

At the Weser-Stadion, Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke-less Schalke 04 defeated Joseph Akpala’s Werder  Bremen two-nil. Akpala missed the match as a result of an injury he sustained two weeks ago.

Kilmarnock fell 2-1 to visiting Dundee FC at the Rugby Park. Former Gateway United, Sporting Lisbon and Celtic Glasgow playmaker Rabiu Ibrahim was introduced in the 81^st minute to salvage a draw for the homers. Ibrahim’s intelligent passes were wasted by his pals. The match attracted a total of 4966 fans.

Hoffenheim disgraced Fortuna Dusseldorf  three-nil in a German Bundesliga match played on Friday. Enterprising right-back Leon Balogun was on the losing train. He lasted the entire duration.

High flying Metz FC were forced to a 1-1 draw by Colmer. Former 36 Lions playmaker Sodiq Popo was not dressed for the match.

Mourning Ahmed Musa who lost one of his family member was expectedly missing in CSKA Moscow’s two-nil league win against Volga Nyzhnyi. The first goal of the tie was struck by Alan Dzagoev in the 31^st minute, while Brazilian striker Vagner Love netted the winner 4 minutes later. However, Love turned vallian with a 90^th minute red card.  

At the Estadio El Madrigal, Villarreal boosted their promotion hopes with a 6-1 bashing of Numancia. Substitute Ikechukwu Uche netted the game’s final strike in the 85^th minute. Also in the thick of the action was Sunday Stephen aka Onya, who was sacrificed in the 45^th minute by the away side.

Chelsea fans  heaved a sigh of relief as their darling team defeated Sunderland 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. John Obi Mikel made his presence felt with another 90 minutes show. UEFA Europa League hero Victor Moses wasn’t dressed for the electrifying clash.

Alan Pardew’s Newcastle pipped Fulham FC one-nil at the Saint James ‘ Park on Sunday. Shola Ameobi was a 69^th minute substitute for the home team.

10-man Queens Park Rangers were punished in the dying moments as they drew 1-1 at home to Wigan. Loic Remy drew the first blood for the homers, while Shaun Maloney leveled for the visitors in the 90^th minute. Nigerian-born defender Nedum  Onuoha was a 46^th minute substitute. He covered his territory and made some incursions upfront.

Oke Akpoveta’s Brondby shocked Randers one-nil at the AutoC Park Randers on Sunday. The Nigeria forward came on for Quincy Antipas in the 82^nd minute. His forays from the left-hand side of attack was well applauded by the travelling fans.

At MSV-Arena, Duisburg made their followers happy with a 2-1 win against Sandhausen. Despite the loss, dedicated centre-back Seyi Olajengbesi was clinical and commanding at the back.

Ugonna Anyora’s FK Haugesund got a positive one-all draw against Sandnes at the Sandnes Stadion. Skillful midfielder Anyora dazzled fans of the game with his mobility and vision. He lasted the entire duration and was rated 7/10 by the Norwegian Press.

In a Turkish Super League match, Yussuf Ayila’s Orduspor failed to shine at home to Fenerbahce, losing two-nil. Former Dynamo Kiev defender Ayila was booked in the 33^rd minute and also lasted the length. Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo marsalled the defence of the away team and was brilliant in his duties. The former Standard Liege star was on for the entire duration. 

At the Valeriy Lobanovskyi, Shakhtar Donetsk confirmed their superiority over Dynamo Kiev with a 2-1 win on Sunday. Taye Taiwo was utilized from the left-back, Haruna Lukman as a central midfielder,  AFCON winner Brown Ideye as a partner to Andriy Yarmolenko in attack. The three Nigerians tried their best but couldn’t rescue Kiev from going down on the night.

Mohun Bogan ran out 5-1 winners away to Sporting Club de Goa in an I-League fixture on Sunday. Odafa Okolie grabbed a hat-trick and provided an assist for the away outfit.

Mumbai FC emerged as the winners in the Mumbai derby, as they brushed aside the challenge of Air India by a scoreline of 3-1, in an I-League encounter at the Belawadi Stadium. Ezeh Henry netted from the spot in the 94^th minute, to pull one back for his side.

Portimonense had themselves to blame for not picking the maximum point at Aves. Tochukwu Nwankwo aka Simmy was a problem to the home side’s back-four. He lasted the entire length, in a match that ended goalless.

In Vietnam, Hoang Anh Gia Lai conceded two late goals, to share the spoils against Dong Nai FC. Nigerian-born player O. Bolaji registered his name on the scoresheet in the 47th minute of explosive battle. He was on for 90 minutes.