NAIJA PLAYERS XPLOITS ABROAD......WRITTEN BY ABAYOMI ADEMETAN

Tianjin Teda and Wuhan Zall played out a thrilling 3 - 2 scoreline, with former Odd Grenland star Chukwuma Akabueze ending up on the losing side.

The Guangzhou derby between R&F and Evergrande ended 2-0 in favour of the champions. Former Maccabi Haifa predator Yakubu Aiyegbeni fired blanks in the colours of R&F.

Omonia Nicosia dismantled Anorthosis Famagusta 4-0 without the services of their Nigerian-born defender Rasheed Alabi. The ever reliable schemer was benched for the length.

FC Cologne failed to catch-up with Kaiserslautern after being held to a 1-1 draw by 1860 Munich. Former Warri Wolves and Lillestrom banger Anthony Ujah scored Koln's only goal in the 7th minute of action.

Sandhausen were officially relegated from the German Bundesliga II after losing one-nil at the Hardtwaldstadion (Sandhausen). Seyi Olajengbesi came-on in the second half to shore up the leaky defence of the home side.

Varese made sure their one man advantage counted by beating Cittadella 2-0 on Saturday. The duo of Nnamdi Oduamadi and Osameriem Ebague played pivotal roles in the hosts success. Odu was yellow carded in the 28th minute, while Ebague netted Varese's second goal in the 90th minute of action.

With the scoreline at 1-0, a 72nd minute strike by Tochukwu Simmy Nwankwo was the motivation Portimonense needed to defeat UD Oliveirense. The winning goal was scored by Fabricio who raced on to a through ball by the Nigerian to give the homers the maximum points. Simmy has netted 15 goals in the current season.

In-form Fenerbahce fought hard to win 2-1 against Kayserispor at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadyumu (İstanbul). Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo was rested by the Europa League campaigners.

It was three wins in a row for Hoang Anh Gia Lai when they defeated Hai Phong one-nil at the Lach Tray Stadium. The duo of Bassey Akpan and Ganiyu Oseni were excellent in the match. They lasted the entire duration.

Kien Giang were held to a 2 - 2 draw by Thanh Hoa on Saturday. Defence trojan Sope Ahmed did well at the back, while his team-mate Felix Gbenga Ajala netted Kien's second goal. They were both on for 90 minutes.

With Kryvbas in need of inspiration upfront, substitute Michael Babatunde provided it by tormenting Metalurh Donestsk's defence and they equalised in the 90th minute of action.

With the presence of their talisman Kehinde Fatai, Astra Giurgiu failed to shin at Vaslui, losing 2-1. The Nigerian was on for 90 minutes.

At the Stadion Miejski im Henryka Reymana (Kraków), attacking duo Emmanuel Sarki and Princewell Okachi made the difference in the colours of Wisla Krakow and Widzew Lodz respectively. It was Sarki who laughed last, as his club won the war one-nil.

At the Alfheim Stadion, Haugesund's winning streak was halted by Tromso as they lost 2-1. Upcoming midfielder Ugonna Anyora tried his best but met a match in the hosts well oiled midfield. He was on for the length.

Goals from the boots of Tiina Sarrio and Juliette Kemppi ensured that unbeaten Aland United raked the 3 points against TPS in a Finland Naisten Liiga match played on Saturday. Cynthia Uwak was on for the duration.

In Sweden, KIF Orebro defeated visiting Vittsjo 3-1 at the Behrn Arena (Örebro). Sarah Michael provided one of the assists that resulted in Orebro's goals.

Umea were grateful to Rita Chikwelu for her vision in destroying Kristianstad on Sunday. The Super Falcons holding midfielder netted Umea's first goal in the 23rd minute of play. The game ended 2-1.

At the LF Arena (Piteå), duo of Faith Ikidi and Francisca Ordega were instrumental to Pitea's 3-2 win over Jitex. Ikidi was on from the start, while Ordega was a 75th minute substitute.

In Albania, Skënderbeu Korçë were in no mood for pleasure as they annihilated Kastrioti Kruje 2-0. Former youth star Nurudeen Orelesi was part of the success as his club won the Premier League.

It was a bleak day for the likes of Charles Ofoyen, Sunday Adekunbi and Kehinde Owoeye as their team, Tomori Berat sunk to the dreaded division two. They were held to a 2-2 draw by Luftëtari Gjirokastër.

Qarabağ continued to mount the pressure on Neftçi with a 2-0 win over Qabala at the Şəhər stadionu. Former Etoile Du Sahel star Emeka Opara gave Qabala's defenders a torrid time with his powerful display upfront.

Qingdao Jonoon were unable to muster a win at Liaoning Whowin. They drew 1-1. Ex-NPFL star Gabriel Melkam was entrusted with the playmaking role by the visiting team. He was on for the entire length.

Dalian Aerbin destroyed Beijing Guoan 3-0 over the weekend. Former Odense forward Peter Utaka was a second half substitute in the one-sided battle.

At the Norrvalla IP, Sunnana were disgraced 5-1 by visiting Goteborg FC. Helen Ukaonu and Perpetua Nkwocha both tasted defeat.

Schalke 04 kept their European hopes alive with a 4-1 win against Hamburger at the Veltins Arena. Former Hoffenheim attacker Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke was not listed by the homers.

Fortuna Dusseldorf found themselves still fighting to avoid the drop following their narrow 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, who just about managed to hold on after goals from Nuri Sahin and Jakub Blaszczykowski. Leon Balogun continued his consistent run at the right-back with some fluid display.
 

Standard Liege pipped Zulte-Waregem on Sunday with Imoh Ezekiel being given 64 minutes action.

Academica shrugged off the absence of John Ogu to pip visiting Moreirense 1-0 at the Cidade de Coimbra.

Third-placed Anzhi Makhachkala lost 2-0 at Spartak Moscow, who scored through Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom and Dmitry Kombarov. AFCON 2013 topscorer Emmanuel Emenike finally made his long awaited comeback with a 54th minute appearance for Spartak.

Palermo moved out of the Serie A relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Inter at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on Sunday. Joel Chukwuma Obi was not listed for action by the former UCL Kings.

2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup topscorer Macauley Chrisantus scored his 10th goal in the Segunda Division as Las Palmas lost 5-1 to Cordoba. The former FC Abuja forward scored in the 56th minute to pull a goal back for his club.

Reading and QPR were both relegated from the Premier League after they played out a dull 0-0 draw at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday. Versatile Nedum Onuoha was brilliant at the back for the visitors.

First-half goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard were enough to secure a 2-0 win for Chelsea against Swansea on Sunday. Super Eagles engine room John Obi Mikel was on the bench for the length, while his international pal was not listed by Rafa Benitez.

Russian Premier League table-toppers CSKA Moscow slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Rubin Kazan on Sunday. CSKA could have moved six points clear at the top of the league with just four matches to play had they earned victory, but they were frustrated in Kazan. Super Eagles star Ahmed Musa was not at his usual best for the table toppers.

Ex-Enugu Rangers forward Uche Nwofor salvaged a point for VVV Venlo in the Dutch Eredivise as they were forced to a 1-1 draw by hosts ADO den Haag. He gave Venlo the lead in the 14th minute. Nwofor was substituted in the 88th minute. Eagles centre-back Kenneth Omeruo was on for the entire duration for ADO den Haag.

Recalled Super Eagles midfielder Lukman Haruna scored a brace to give Dynamo Kiev a 2-0 win against Dnipro in the Ukrainian league on Sunday. Kiev remain in second place on the table with 56 points from 26 games. Haruna opened scoring for Dynamo in the ninth minute and completed his brace at the end of first half. Compatriots Taye Taiwo and Brown Ideye also featured in the game.

Former Esperance Sportive Tunis forward Michael Eneramo showed Istanbul Buyuksehir defenders how to play football with a 26 minutes hat-trick for Sivasspor in a Turkish Super League match played at the 4 Eylül Stadi. The game ended 4-1.

Stade Rennes pushed Brest further to the relegation zone with a 2-0 win on Saturday. Nigerian nationals Ejike Uzoenyi and Onyekachi Apam were not listed by Rennes.

Super sub and on-loan Arsenal playmaker Chuks Aneke put the icing on the cake for Crewe with a fantastic goal which settled the battle against Walsall. The game ended 2-0.

Montpellier missed the presence of John Chukwudi Utaka in 2-1 loss to Ajaccio. The veteran was not listed for action by the current Ligue 1 champions.

Bury scored three goals in 27 minutes to beat Yeovil Town 3-2 on Saturday. Old guard Efe Sodje gave no room for Yeovil's attacker, thus lasting the length. Nicky Ajose netted Bury's third goal in the 32nd minute of action.

Peterborough pipped visiting Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 on Saturday. Former Kwara United midfielder Seyi George Olofinjana was in the thick of the action. He was on the losing team.

Stubborn side Oldham got a positive 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient. Fast rising youngster Moses Odubajo gave a good account of his dossier representing Orient.

Pune FC seem determined to keep their I-League title hopes alive after beating Mohun Bagan 3-1 at the Kalyani Stadium, Kolkata. Odafa Okolie did however manage to pull one back in the third minute of the second half injury time but it was a case of too little too late for the homers.

The match between Lillestrom and IK Start produced 5 solid goals. It was not a good day for Solomon James Owello whose skillful deeds was a 3-2 loss in the colours of Start.

At the Aker Stadion, Molde FK lost 2-1 to Stromsgodset. Daniel Chima netted the consolation for the current league champions in the 83rd minute. Emmanuel Ekpo did a yeoman's job at the middle of the pack.

Katlego Mashego netted his eleventh league goal of the season when he helped Moroka Swallows to a vital three points away from home against Maritzburg United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday night in their Absa Premiership match. Former Lobi Stars and Plateau United custodian Greg Etafia was thrice called to duty in goal for Swallows and he didn't disappoint. He was on for 90 minutes.

Elderson Echiejile was sent off for the second time this season as his Portuguese club Sporting Braga lost 2-1 at Estoril on Friday. Nigeria international Elderson first saw red after two bookings this season when he was sent off in February in a 3-2 home win over Vitoria Guimaraes. On Friday night, the Nigeria defender was at his best against Estoril only to get a straight red card in the 84th minute for a late tackle.

Chippa United came from behind to secure a crucial point as they drew 1-1 with Ajax Cape Town at the Phillipi Stadium on Saturday night. Commanding defender James Okwuosa underlined his importance to Chippa with a scintillating performance at the back-line.

South African midfielder Steven Pienaar scored the only goal of the match as Everton defeated Fulham on Saturday. Victor Anichebe was utilised as a substitute by Everton boss David Moyes.