Alfred Duncan Inspires Sassoulo To Heavy Win

Energetic Ghanaian midfielder, Alfred Duncan, came off the bench to inspire AS Sassoulo to a valuable win in the UEFA Europa League.

The Italy-based Ghanaian work horse bagged his opening win in the group stages of the continental football competition at the first time of asking.

The versatile midfielder came on in final 15 minutes of the tie but soon powered the Italian side into an unassailable 3-0 lead at the expense of Athletic Club.

Much sought-after Spanish-born Ghanaian attacker, Innaki Williams, made way for Ariz Aduriz 10 minutes into the second department of the game.

Alfred Duncan came close to trading the Serie A for English football before later pulling the plugs on any potential transfer to the English top tier League.

Alfred Duncan Inspires Sassoulo To Heavy Win

Duncan Shows Class In Sassoulo"s Europa Progress

Italy-based Ghanaian midfielder, Alfred Duncan, starred for his Serie-A side in a crucial 1-1 European tie away to Crevena.

The hard-tackling midfielder lasted the full throttle for the European debutants as they booked a place in the group stages of the continental club competition.

Italian forward,  Dominico Berardi, opened the scoring for AS Sassoulo before a second half response from the Norwegians levelled matters.

Alfred Duncan and his ruthless side, however zoomed into the gruop stage thanks to an opening 3-0 win in the first leg hosted on Italian soil.

Duncan has since featured in 4 games for the Italians including an European debut away to Swiss side, Luzern.

Duncan won the best player in the Italian top flight at the end of the 2015/16 Serie-A season.

Duncan Shows Class In Sassoulo"s Europa Progress

Duncan Stars On European Debut

Italy-based Ghanaian youngster, Alfred Duncan, made his long-awaited European club competition debut away to Swiss side, Luzern, in the third round qualifiers of the UEFA Europa League.

The AS Sassoulo midfielder guided his Italian side to a crucial away draw at the Swisspor Arena to put themselves in pole position for a place in the gruop stages.

The 23-year-old former Sampdoria, Livorno and Inter Milan box-to-box midfielder, carried his domestic form onto the European stage to hand Eusebio Di Francesco’s men a crucial first-leg advantage.

Duncan took the Serie A’s 2015/16 season by storm sealing qualification for European club football competition with AS Sassoulo ahead of AC Milan, in the process.

A cheeky Dominco Berradi spot-kick tied the scoreline for the visitors in the first-leg of the qualifiers ahead of the final lapses next week.

The Ghanaian registered 35 appearances for the Italians en-route to their European club football qualificatio

Duncan Stars On European Debut

Juventus" Coppa Italia Triumph Hands Alfred Duncan European Football

Italy based Ghanaian anchor man Alfred Duncan has landed himself European football after Juventus scalp over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia showdown.

The Sassoulo defensive midfielder finished his Serie A campaign on the sixth slot but needed assistance from the Bienconeri to seal one of the three Europa league spots from Italy.

The 22 year old hotshot featured prominently for the Serie A high fliers with 35 appearance across the season.

The Inter Milan Academy graduate arrived at the Stadio Citta Del Triccole from Sampdoria but has developed into one of the finest combative midfielders on Italian soil.

Alfred Duncan joined by colleague to celebrate a goal

 

The explosive midfielder has reportedly been earmarked by a European club ahead of the summer transfer window but the presence of European night might just lure the Ghanaian into extending his tenure with Sassoulo.

Juventus denied AC Milan the only route to European football with another hard earned victory over their Rosseneri counterparts to hand Sassuolo a ticket to Europe.

Sassoulo joins Fiorentina and Inter Milan for Europa League adventures whiles AS Roma and Napoli join Juventus for the 2016/17 UEFA Champions league campaign

Juventus" Coppa Italia Triumph Hands Alfred Duncan European Football

Alfred Duncan Steers Sassoulo Closer To European Football

Italy based Ghanaian midfielder Alfred Duncan kept his side’s European hopes alive in a slim 1-0 over Hellas Verona.

The 23 year old Sassoulo midfielder proved crucial at both ends of the pitch with crucial interceptions across the pitch in the nervy triumph for the sixth place hosts.

The former Sampdoria defensive midfielder bossed affairs from the middle of the field with his energetic runs for the rejuvenated Sassoulo.

The hosts followed up their 3-1 away thumping of Torino with a fully deserved 1-0 win over the basement side Verona.

Duncan has since clocked 31 appearance and one goal in the ongoing season with two matches to end the campaign.

Sassoulo remains six points adrift of the automatic UEFA Europa league spot in Italy with two matches to end the campaign.

Verona meanwhile has been condemned to Serie B football with the defeat at Sassoulo.

Alfred Duncan Steers Sassoulo Closer To European Football

Assifuah And Duncan Start For Ghana Against Mozambique

Coach Avram Grant has named FC Sion striker, Ebenezer Assifuah and Sassuolo versatile player, Alfred Duncan in the Black Stars game against OS Mambas of Mozambique.

The duo missed the first leg clash at the Accra Sports Stadium and will look forward to an impressive and convincing performance to at least retain a place in the final squad for the tournament in Gabon next year.

These are the men to do battle

Razak Braimah keeps his place goal and it’s an unchanged back four – Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye and Baba Rahman.

In midfield, Afriyie Acquah, Agyemang Badu and Alfred Duncan whilst the attack has Jeffery Schlupp, Jordan Ayew and Ebenezer Assifuah.

Razak Braimah, Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Baba Rahman, Agyemang Badu, Alfred Duncan, Afriyie Acquah, Jordan Ayew, Jefferey Schlupp and Ebenezer Assifuah.

Assifuah And Duncan Start For Ghana Against Mozambique

Ghanaian Players In Midweek European Action

England

West Ham United vs Aston Villa

Jordan Ayew got booked for  a silly foul on West Ham United left back, Aaron Creswell. The game was going as planned for the bottom placed Villa but with ten men it was difficult to see how they travel back to the midlands with even a point. Goals from Antonio and Cheik Kouyate gave the hammers all the three points.

 

Leicester City vs Liverpool

Daniel Amartey is still waiting to make his debut for Leicester city since he completed an £8m move to the English premier league side. The Foxes defeated Liverpool by 2-goals to nil as they retained their firm grip of top spot. Jeffrey Schlupp is a couple of weeks away from returning to first team action for Leicester city.

 

West Brom vs Swansea City

Ghanaian forward, Andre Ayew played 82 – minutes of Swansea’s 1 all draw game away to West Brom at the Hawthorns. The Welsh side took the lead through Icelandic international, Gylfi Sigurdsson with some few minutes left on the clock it looked like the Swans will win their second game in succession after beating Everton but West Brom’s record signing, Salomon Rondon ensured that didn’t happen.

 

 Italy

Sassuolo vs AS Roma

Alfred Duncan started for Sassuolo as they hosted Serie A giants AS Roma. The versatile Ghanaian international lasted 87 minutes as a lone goal from former Chelsea forward, Mohammed Salah gave the capita based club all three points.

Ghanaian Players In Midweek European Action

Review: Ghanaian Players abroad England

Ghanaian Players abroad

sportscrusader.com reviews how Ghanaian players fared with their various European clubs.

England

Jordan Ayew Aston Villa were 4-0 losers to 2012 FA cup champions, Manchester city. The Ghanaian forward played the entire duration of the game but as has been the norm the Villains can’t stop draining goals.

 

Baba Rahman got his first game and start under new interim manager Guus Hiddink as the blues left the home of Milton Keynes Dons-MK Dons as 5-1 victors. Rahman whose performance was very impressive through the full duration of the game will hope for at least some game time in their midweek premier league clash against.

 

Spain

Las Palmas defeated in their la liga clash. Ghanaian combative Midfielder Mubarak Wakaso was instrumental in the 2-1 victory over Celta de Vigo but his performance won’t be complete without his trademark – been booked before his substitution in the 87th minute.

 

New Malaga loan signing from English premier league side, Chelsea, Christian Atsu warmed the bench as the side won 2-0 away from home against  Eibar.

 

Alex Partey came on in the second half for nine man Atletico Madrid but couldn’t help prevent a 2-1 defeat to world club champions and 2014/15 UEFA champions league winners, Barcelona.

 

Italy

Kwadwo Asamoah sat out injured as Juventus continued with their winning streak after defeating Chievo Verona by 4-goals. Ghanaian Midfielder Yussif Rahman played minutes for the home team – Chievo Verona.

 

Kevin prince Boateng played just 2-minutes as AC Milan thrashed city rivals inter in the Milan derby. Goals from heaped more pressure on under-fire inter Milan manager, Roberto Mancini. The Biaconneri’s have won just in their last games.

 

Agyemang Badu played the full 90-minutes as Udinese drew goalless as the Zebra’s continued their search for a first Serie a win in their last 4-games recording three defeats.

 

Afriyie  Acquah played just 58-minutes in Torino’s goalless drawn game against bottom place, Hellas Verona.

 

Yussif Rahman Chibsah played 76-minutes in Frosinone 3-1 defeat away to 5th placed AS Roma. The newly promoted, Frosinone have to start picking up maximum points as the season looks gloomy for a chance to stay in the league beyond this season.

 

Carpi drew one all against Palermo in their Serie A clash. Ghanaian versatile player, Isaac Cofie only lasted 45-minutes of the first half as for tactical reasons from coach Fabrizio Castori Cofie sat out the second half of the match.

 

Greece

Ghanaian veteran midfielder, Michael Essien continued his consistent stay with his Greek club Panathinaikos. The former Chelsea combative midfield dynamo scored his first goal against Levadiakos. Essien lasted the entire duration in his sides 1-2 away victory against Platainas.

 

France

Majeed Waris returned from injury and helped his Lorient side win maximum points against Reims in the French Ligue 1. Two Goals from Zargo Toure in either halves of the games ensured Lorient stayed in 13th place and above the relegation zone.

Review: Ghanaian Players abroad England

Review: How Ghanaian Players Fared In The Major European Leagues

How Ghanaian Players Fared In The Major European Leagues

 

The French ligue, Spanish la liga and the other leagues besides the English premier league returned fully from the holidays break. Many Ghanaian players as a result returned to league action to help propel their clubs to the top and also try retain their clubs involved in relegation battles.

 

ENGLAND

Baba Rahman was an unused substitute when Chelsea were 2-0 victors over league one opposition Scunthorpe United in the English Emrate FA cup on Sunday afternoon.

Chelsea’s left back, Baba Rahman

FRANCE

Ghana Striker, Abdul Majeed Waris continued his fine form from injury after netting his fourth goal since his return from injury. The former Red Bull academy player scored a 22nd minute goal for Lorient in their 2-2 draw at Stade Rennes on Saturday.

FC Lorient forward, Majeed Waris

Defender Dennis Appiah played the full duration of the game but could not prevent Caen from suffering a 2-0 loss away to Angers. The defeat now leaves Caen 4 – points adrift Angers who are second with 34-points.

 

Manchester City loanee and Ghana U20 star, Yaw Yeboah failed to make the Lille squad for their 1-1 home draw against OGC Nice.

 

French U20 forward and prospect for the Ghana black stars, Grejohn Kyei watched as his Stade Reims were consigned to a 3-1 home loss by Toulouse. The young forward missed the game through injury.

 

ITALY

The Italian Serie A played their second game since returning from the holidays break and saw an exodus of Ghanaian players involved in club action.

 

Isaac Cofie welcomed fellow midfielder and Ghanaian international, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu when the pair represented Carpi and Udinese respectively. Cofie’s Carpi emerged 2-1 victors over the Zebras.

Udinese combative midfielder, Agyemang Badu

Long absentee Ghana midfielder, Kevin-Prince Boateng marked his second coming as player of AC Milan when he came off the bench to play in the Rossoneri’s 1-1 draw with AS Roma on Saturday.

AC Milan returnee, Kevin Prince Boateng

Alfred Duncan travelled to his old side, Inter Milan when Sassuolo visited the Milan based side in Serie A action.

The Ghanaian versatile defender played 84 minutes and helped Sassuolo beat his former club – Inter Milan by 1-0 at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Sassuolo versatile defender, Alfred Duncan

Midfielder Godfred Donsah was an unused substitute by Bologna who succumbed to a 1-0 home loss against Chievo Verona.

 

Afriyie Acquah was not in the Torino squad for their 1-0 home loss against Empoli. Kwadwo Asamoah came off the bench during Juventus’ 2-1 away victory to Sampdoria.

 

SPAIN

Thomas Partey was not named in manager, Diego Simeone’s squadlist for Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 win away at Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid hot prospect, Thomas Partey

Ghana midfielder Bernard Mensah played a cameo role in Getafe’s 1-0 win against Real Betis.

 

Winger Wakaso Mubarak played 20 minutes of the second half for Las Palmas after coming off the bench came off in their 1-1 draw with Malaga. Wakaso was booked in the game minutes after coming on.

Las Palmas, midfielder, Mubarak Wakaso

Former Asante Kotoko midfielder Michael Anaba’s name was missing in Elche’s team when they drew 1-1 with Real Valladolid.

Review: How Ghanaian Players Fared In The Major European Leagues