Africans In Spain: Pierre Webo Leads Strong Cameroonian Showing

Goal.com's Paul Madden rounds up the key performances from African players in La Liga at the weekend...

By Paul Madden

Pierre Webo, Mallorca (PA)
This weekend Cameroon players produced the most notable African performances in the Primera Liga with strike Pierre Webo netting the final goal in a 3-0 thumping of Sporting Gijon at the Ono Stadi. Webo had only been introduced as a sub in the 81st minute but capped another fine home performance from the Balearic Island outfit that keeps them well in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League place.

Espanyol had goalkeeper Carlos Kameni to thank in their scoreless draw against Villarreal at the Cornella El Prat stadium in Barcelona. Not for the first time this season the Blanc i Blau maintained a clean sheet thanks to the Cameroon custodian. Although they finished the game with ten men they secured a point thanks largely to Kameni's goalkeepeing.

Cameroonian midfielder Modeste M'Bami proved the bane of Barcelona as he produced an energetic display for Almeria in their 2-2 draw at the Estadio del Juegos Meditteraneos. M'Bami and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure contested an intriguing midfield battle as the champions had to twice rely on Lionel Messi to pull them level as they relinquished their lead at the top of the table.

In the stand out fixture of the weekend which saw Real Madrid overturn a two goal deficit to run out 3-2 winners thanks to a late Rafael Van der Vaart injury time winner, Ivorian midfielder Didier Zokora started brightly but was eventually overrun as Madrid marched to a terrific victory which saw them go top of the table on goal difference. Mali international striker Frederic Kanoute was a second half substitute but was largely uninvolved as a rampant Madrid overturned Sevilla in fine style.

Atletico Madrid's young Senegalese striker Ibrahima Balde proved the hero for Los Colchoneros netting a stoppage time equaliser against Real Zaragoza at La Romareda. The hosts lead fot almost the entire game following Jiri Jarosik's seventh minute header but Ibrahima emerged from the bench with just two minutes remaining and powered home a header to keep his sides recent resurgence on track.

Another Sengalese striker, Papakouli Diop, and team-mate Mohammed Tchite put in good displays for Racing Santander as they secured a scoreless draw away to Valencia on Monday night. In truth the Cantabrian outfit could have taken all three points but for some wasteful finishing but the point brings them six points clear of the drop zone.
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Hosted by Stephen Crawford & Adam Scime
2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.

We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!

Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.

From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!

2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.

Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:

"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.

"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.

"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."

Full story HERE


2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.

“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.

(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)

“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.

“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.


Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.

“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.

“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”


2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.

"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."

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