Ghanaian Players Abroad: Goals And Debuts

With less than three weeks to the opening fixtures of the major European leagues, Ghanaian players continue to fine-tune their readiness for the new campaign.

Sportscrusader.com’s Saani Abacha takes a look at the performance of Ghanaian players across the planet ahead of the official commencement of the leagues they play in.

Andre Ayew’s screamer against Bristol City headlines a list of Ghanaian quartet who found the back of the net for their respective clubs.

England

Ghana duo of Jeff Schlupp and Daniel Amartey added to their trophy cabinet, the International Championship Cup(ICC)after their side’s win over Glasgow Celtic. The pair engineered a 6-5 win over the Scots after a 1-1 regulation time scoreline. Daniel Amartey scored the winning spot kick for the Foxes.

Swansea city have Andre Ayew to thank for their 5-1 demolition of Championship side, Bristol City FC, with one eye on the Barclays premier league opening fixtures. The Ghanaian atoned for his woeful display against Richmond Kickers with a thumping finish to open the floodgate for the Swans in the landslide win. Younger brother, Jordan Ayew, could not add to his four preseason goals but powered Aston Villa to a crucial win over French side, Nantes. Ruud Gestede handed the London visitors a slim 0-1 win for the relegated Aston Villa to give Jordan a short duel with French opposition.

Italy

Kwadwo Asamoah featured for the Bienconerris in a thrilling clash with Mel Victory in a thrilling 1-1 preseason shake-up game. Asamoah bossed affairs from the left flank but missed out on the main trophy via the lottery of shootouts.

Godfred Donsah hinted at an explosive season in the Serie A with a pile driver to earn Bologna a 2-1 win over Haifa. Donsah left it late with an 85th minute winner for his Italian side in the nervy clash. Emmanuel Agyemang Badu continues to dazzle for his Stade fruili side with another masterclass performance over Al Ain and CSKA Moskow.

Serie A newcomer, Ransford SelasI, set the Terano arena ablaze with his quick feet in a 2-0 win for Pescara. The 20-year-old midfield screen, came on in the second department and eventually won the game for his side with two assists to his name.

Sweden

In the Swedish Allsvenkan, Ghanaian wide man, Kwame Bonsu was powerless in his side’s 2-0 defeat at Norokoping. The Gefle SC versatile midfielder came on in the 58th minute for the relegation engulfed side in an expected defeat for the poor travelers.

Enock Adu Kofi and his Malmo FF extended their lead at the summit of the division with a 1-1 drawn game at home to Kalamar. Kofi was booked for a late tackle and lasted 70 minutes on the pitch for the UEFA Champions league hopefuls.

Ghana duo of Patrick Kpozo and Ebenezer Ofori kept AIK Solna in the title race with a crucial win away to Hammarby. Ebenzer Ofori assisted the first of his side’s 3-0 goals and capped that with a composed finish to round up the scoring. Kpozo spanned the full throttle of the game whiles Ofori managed 85 minutes.

Baba Mensah and Nasir Mohammed added to the spectators in the crowd as BK Hacken earned a vital 0-2 away triumph at Helsinborg. Compatriot, Mohammed Abubakari featured 90 minutes for Hacken on his return to the side.

In the Swedish second tier league, Yussif Chibsah lasted 90 minutes for Ljungskile in a painful 3-2 defeat at Atvidaberg whiles Kingsley Sarfo registered two assists for Sirius in a 5-3 thumping of Assyrisks. Sarfo spanned the entire duration.

USA

Harrison Afful celebrated his return from an unfair sending-off with another energetic display down the flank in a 2-2 drawn game with Orlando. Brazilian legend, Ricardo Kaka, came off the bench to deny Columbus a fully deserved win in the MLS.

Charles Sarpong featured 78 minutes for Philadelphia Union in a nightmare defeat at Montreal. A Didier Drogba treble tamed Union in the 5-1 evisceration exercise that saw Dominic Oduro watch from the bench.

Ghanaian trio of Oduro, Lloyd Sam and Patrick Nyarko were mauled by Toronto in the division’s early kick-offs. Patrick Nyarko replaced Lloyd Sam in the DC United side looking for a way out of their 90 minute prison sentence. Oduro lasted the entirety of the game.

Elsewhere in the division, David Accam, passed his personal test yet again despite ending the game on the losing side. The pocket side attacker excelled across the full throttle of the game in a 1-0 win for New England Revolution over Chicago Fire.

Derek Boateng was restricted to just 3 minutes for his USL side, Rayo OKC in a 3-2 defeat at Puerto Rico.

Norway

Black Stars custodian, Adam Larson Kwarasey, earned his first clean sheet for his new side Rosenborg in a 6-0 win over Haugesaund. The lanky shot stopper traded the MLS for the Norwegian Trippligean over the weekend and was planted straight into action.

Still in Norway, Ghana duo of Kamal Issah and Ernest Asante powered Staebik to a priceless point at Tromso in a 2-2 drawn game for Staebik. Both players featured the whole 90 minutes for Staebik.

Former Accra Hearts of oak attacker, Mahatma Osman Otoo came on as a 72nd minute substitute for Sognal in a 2-2 drawn game at home to Bodo Glimt. Gilbert Koomson lasted the entire 90 minutes for Sognal as they continue their march up the log.

Estonia

Haminu Dramani opened his domestic scoring account for Infonet in a 6-0 mauling of Rakavere. The 30-year-old opened the flood gate just six minutes into the game but was substituted in the last five minutes.

Elsewhere, Kevin Mensah suffered heavy defeat with Esberj in a 0-4 nightmare loss. Kobenhagen spanked the division’s most generous side by four with Mensah featuring the full 90 minutes.

Quincy Abeyie and Reagy Baah Fosu watched from the crowd as NEC Nemegin slumped to a 5-1 defeat against ZW.

Ransford Osei managed 65 minutes for ROPS in a 1-0 win over HIFK in the Finnish league whiles Patrick Twumasi missed the weekend’s goal feast in the Kazakhstan league after his side’s clash with Karagandy was rained-off with one eye on Celtic.

Richard Gadze enjoyed a second half appearance for HJK as they returned to the summit of the log in Finland.

Former WAFA SC talismanic forward, Samuel Tetteh, passed his first test for Austrian side, Leifering in his debut game in the Bundelsliga whiles Kwarasey’s debut in the Norwegian ended in a landslide win for Rosenborg.

2013 FIFA U20 Golden boot winner, Ebenezer Assifuah, added to the watching crowd as Basel inflicted a 3-0 defeat on FC Sion.

Follow Saani Abacha on twitter as @Saani_abacha.

Ghanaian Players Abroad: Goals And Debuts