New signing at Spartak Moscow of Russia, Victor Moses got his debut on Saturday, as he got game time just three days after joining the Russian Premier League outfit, and he helped them to s 3-2 victory away to FC Khimki, with fellow-2018 World Cup star, Bryan Idowu getting one of the hosts’ goals, megasportsarena,com reports.
The 29-year-old Moses shot straight into Spartak coach, Domenico Tedesco’s squad, just three days after completing a season-long loan arrival from Chelsea, and the former Super Eagles’ star made the best of his debut with the Moscow-based side, for which Idowu scored a goal in defeat for the home team.
Moses, who joined The People’s Team on Wednesday, went on in place of Nail Umyarov in the 55th minute of play, for his maiden appearance in the Russian Premier League; and he soon inspired Spartak to fight back from a goal deficit as they scored three goals within 20 minutes.
Idowu reduced the deficit for the hosts with his first Russian top-flight league goal in almost four years, during his time at Amkar Perm, and the assist on Saturday’s game came from Cote d’Ivoire star, Mohamed Konate; but their combination was just not enough to get the hosts victory at Arena Khimki.
In England, Stoke City midfielder, John Mikel Obi played a crucial role in the middle of the park and helped his side to maximum points in a 2-0 victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, where The Potters got what was only their second win in the English Championship this season.
Mikel delivered an impressive performance in midfield that helped The Potters achieve a clean sheet away, and he was in action for the entire duration; which added to his feat of having now played every minute of Stoke’s league matches, in a total of 450 minutes so far his season.
The 33-year-old former Super Eagles’ captain was rated with his side’s best pass accuracy of 82.1 per cent, as well as second-highest tackles o either side, and three clearances; but Odion Jude Ighalo was benched for all 90 minutes by Manchester United in a 4-1 win away to Newcastle United.
Ighalo’s fellow-January arrival at Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes made amends for a penalty miss earlier in the game by hitting home a superb finish, as United left it late to surge to victory at Saint James’ Park.
Fernandes capped a superb 86th-minute attack by clipping the ball inside the far post after earlier seeing his spot-kick saved by Karl Darlow, which was his first miss from the spot since the start of his days with United – after 10 successful attempts.
The visitors, who had trailed through Luke Shaw’s early own goal and got themselves level courtesy of Harry Maguire’s 23rd-minute header, wrapped up a 4-1 win in stoppage time with a rocket from full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and a well-deserved goal for Marcus Rashford.
Earlier on, Alex Iwobi was a 78th minute substitute for Everton, in place of Abdoulaye Doucoure, and The Toffees stormed back from behind twice to maintain their unbeaten start to the EPL season in a thrilling Merseyside derby, but Liverpool were denied a stoppage-time winner by the video assistant referee.
Sadio Mane put the visitors ahead in the third minute but they were furious soon afterwards when a wild challenge by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford on Virgil van Dijk, committed after an offside decision, saw the defender having to go off injured with VAR failing to review the tackle.
In Germany, Nigeria’s new promising defender, Kevin Akpoguma was in full minutes of action for TSG Hoffenheim, but he could not save them from losing 1-0 against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
The 25-year-old centre-back was handed his fourth start this season for Die Kraichgauer, despite only recently rejoining the side after he left for international duty, following which he made the best of his first match back, as he paired Kevin Vogt and Stefan Posch in the heart of defence.
Akpoguma featured for the duration of the game, during which he achieved 63 touches, won an aerial contest, made a single tackle, got three interceptions and blocked two shots; but Marco Reus scored the only goal from Erling Haaland’s assist, to halt Hoffenheim’s gallant form.
