Mohammed Salah saves Liverpool with a late shot. Image credit: EPA.
Salah’s Late Penalty Keeps Liverpool Perfect as African Stars Shine Across Europe
(The Post News) – Mohamed Salah left it late but decisive as he fired Liverpool to a dramatic 1-0 victory over Burnley at the weekend, converting a 95th-minute penalty to secure three crucial points at Turf Moor.
Though the Egyptian winger had a relatively quiet game, he stepped up when it mattered most. The spot-kick awarded after Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri was penalised for handball ensured Liverpool maintained their perfect record in the Premier League this season. With four wins from four, the defending champions sit three points clear of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bournemouth.
The win also wrote a new piece of Premier League history: Liverpool became the first team ever to win four consecutive matches with winning goals scored in the final 10 minutes or later. Under new manager Arne Slot, the Reds are fast developing a reputation for last-gasp heroics.
Semenyo Sparks Bournemouth Win
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Ghana international Antoine Semenyo continued his electric start to the season in Bournemouth’s 2-1 victory over Brighton. The 25-year-old winger set up the opening goal for Alex Scott before coolly converting a second-half penalty to seal the win.
With three goals and two assists in just four matches, Semenyo is rapidly becoming one of the standout performers in the early stages of the campaign.
Sarr On Target for Tottenham
Tottenham also kept up their strong start with a convincing 3-0 win over West Ham, and it was Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr who broke the deadlock. The 23-year-old midfielder capitalised on slack defending from a set-piece, heading in his first goal of the season early in the second half.
Bundesliga Roundup: Guirassy, Hountondji, Boniface Impress
In Germany, Serhou Guirassy extended his sensational scoring run for Borussia Dortmund, netting for the eighth consecutive league game in a 2-0 victory over 10-man Heidenheim. The 29-year-old Guinea striker met a Julian Ryerson cross in the 33rd minute to open the scoring. Guirassy has now scored 18 goals in his last 15 matches for club and country.
In Hamburg, Andreas Hountondji kept his scoring streak alive in St Pauli’s 2-1 comeback win over Augsburg. The Benin forward on loan from Burnley had his first-half penalty saved but showed sharp reflexes to bury the rebound. He has now found the net in each of his first three league appearances for the 2. Bundesliga club.
Meanwhile, Victor Boniface made a notable debut for Werder Bremen after joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. The Nigerian striker came off the bench in the 75th minute and needed just six minutes to make an impact, delivering a perfect through ball for Justin Njinmah to score in a 4-0 rout of Borussia Moenchengladbach.
La Liga: Eyong Nets First as Levante Earn Maiden Point
In Spain, Karl Etta Eyong struck early for Levante in their 2-2 draw against Real Betis. The Cameroon-born forward scored from close range inside the first 10 minutes to double the hosts’ lead. However, Betis mounted a comeback to deny Levante their first win of the season. Still, the draw marked their first point in La Liga after three straight defeats.
From Salah’s clutch penalty in England to Guirassy’s record-breaking consistency in Germany, African players continued to make their mark across Europe’s top leagues this weekend. With the season still young, these standout performances suggest there’s much more to come.
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