Some the Ghana players invited for next Tuesday’s friendly against Togo were in action this weekend abroad. Akyereko Frimpong Manson has more on them and others.
England:
Richard Kingson became the biggest casualty of Blackpool’s mid-week defeat at West Ham as Boss Ian Holloway by-passed him for Paul Rachubka for the number one position.
However, Blackpool went down 5-3 at Goodison Park against Everton.
John Pantsil revisited a nightmarish own-goal scene again after two regrettable situations put his Craven Cottage future under scrutiny.
The Ghana right-back gifted Aston Villa an early lead when he turned in a Stewart Downing’s cross into his own net.
Pantsil was however replaced after 62 minutes by Carlo Salcido.
Sunderland missed a fine opportunity to move closer to a top four spot after they allowed Stoke City to come from behind to beat them 3-2 at the Britannia Stadium.
Sunderland Boss Steve Bruce handed starting roles to all three Ghanaian players available in his squad.
Inter Milan loanee Sulley Muntari played 89 minutes while Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah lasted the entire duration of the game.
Gyan set up Kieran Richard for the game’s opener and swept home a glorious strike on the 59th minute after a long through-ball from debutant Sulley Muntari.
Elsewhere in the Npower Championship, promotion hopefuls Leeds United edged Coventry City 1-0 in a keenly battle at the Elland Road Grounds.
Ghana hopeful Lloyd Sam failed to win a starting role for himself in the Peacocks’ team.
In other games, Albert Adomah was a 46th minute substitute for Bristol City which thumped Preston North End 4-0.
Striker Joe Anyinsah lasted 81 minutes for Charlton Athletics which posted a 1-0 win over host team Yeovil Town.
Bristol Rovers sunk to 23rd place on the log after loosing 2-4 at home to Brighton.
Former Arsenal youth striker Jo Kuffour’s promise to revive Rovers campaign is well off track after failing to win any of their last three games.
France:
Andre replaced Cheyrou in the 65th minute and Jordan Ayew came on four minutes later for Remy in Marseille’s 1-0 win over Arles Avignon at the Stade Velodrome.
Black Stars-bound John Boye warmed the Stade Rennes bench in their 1-0 home triumph over PSG.
In the Ligue 2, Moussa Narry played 73 minutes for Le Mans which improved their chances of promotion with a 2-1 away win over Chateauroux.
Former Nania FC attacking midfielder Charles Boateng was the architect of Rouen’s consolation goal against Paris FC.
Spain:
Getafe ensured their poor run of form ended on Saturday with a convincing 4-1 victory over Deportivo La Coruña at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Black Stars returnee Derek Boateng starred in the win for El Geta.
In the Segunda division, centre-back Jonathan Mensah was sidelined again in Granada FC’s 3-2 win at Valladolid.
Wakaso Mubarak who was thrown out of Elche FC last week played his first game for Villarreal B and hugely impressed as they defeated Albacete 2-0 at their own backyard.
Germany:
TSG Hoffenheim survived a second-half scare from Kaiserslautern to win 3-2 with ten men at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah’s starting place remained intact in the win.
Midfield dynamo Anthony Annan made his Bundesliga debut for Schalke 04 which continued their impressive form against leaders Borussia Dortmund at the Iduna Stadium.
The “Little man” lasted 76 minutes on the pitch.
Godfred Aduobe was part of a listless Karlsruhe midfield which failed in their effort to contain SC Paderborn 07 as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat in the Bundesliga II.
Italy:
Udinese returned to winning ways to move up to fifth in the Serie A standings after thrashing Sampdoria 2-0.
Midfield talisman Kwadwo Asamoah played full throttle for Udinese while compatriot Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu watched the game from the bench.
In the Serie B, youngster Isaac Coffie played the full 90 minutes for Piacenza in their 3-1 loss to Ascoli.
Scotland:
Prince Buaben poked home after 59 minutes in Dundee United’s progress to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
The Tangerines defeated Hamilton 3-1.
Belgium:
Rahim Ayew played full throttle in Lierse’s 4-1 defeat at AA Gent on Friday.
William Owusu Acheampong played the entire minutes of Cercle Brugge’s 0-1 defeat to KV Mechelen which did not feature the Iddi brothers.
Israel:
Midfielder Abdul Razak Ibrahim played 90 minuites and for Abraham Basit came on in the 63rd minute for Hapoel Beer Sheva which thrashed Football Club Ashdod 5-0 at home.
Goalkeeeper Stephen Ahorlu and striker Eric Gawu lasted every minute of Hapoel Ashkelon’s 1-0 defeat at Hapoel Akko.
Beitar Jerusalem brought on striker Sam Yeboah on the hour mark in their 1-1 draw with Bnei Yehuda