Spartak Moscow of Russia winger, Victor Moses got back to goals scoring form on an evening his Russian Premier League side ended their training camp in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with a big win over back-to-back Latvian champions, Riga FC.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, same evening, Sivasspor of Turkey attacker, Olareaju Kayode also ended a long drought in front of goal, but Alex Iwobi could not make hay for Everton, on a day his side battled to a pulsating draw with Manchester United.
In Turkey, Kayode was on target to help Sivasspor thrash Ankaragucu 4-1 in a Turkish Super Lig clash at Eryaman Stadyumu in Ankara, where succor came for the star on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine, who had gone 18 games without finding the net in the Super Lig.
Kayode’s last goal came against Antalyaspor on June 28, but his story took a different chapter as Max-Alain Gradel converted a spot kick to open the scoring for the visitors after ten minutes, but the Nigerian striker then doubled the advantage in the 48th minute before Ahmet Oguz put the ball into his own net for 2-1, and then Erdogan Yesilyurt and Mustapha Yatabare scored in the 69th and 88th minute respectively to make it 4-1.
Kayode netted the pick of the goals when he finished off a brilliant counter attack with a close range strike after making a run into the box, as he ignited some of the verve that saw him excel in the group stage of this season’s UEFA Europa League, scoring in four consecutive matches and got another against Giresunspor in the Turkish Cup.
In Russia, Moses, who is on loan from Chelsea of England, made the best of Sunday’s international club friendly, as his Moscow-based club’s coach, Domenico Tedesco sent on the former Super Eagles’ star for the final twenty minutes of the contest.
Moses increased Spartak’s lead 14 minutes after he got off his side’s bench, when he converted a spot kick, before which the deadlock had been broken by Roman Zobnin in the 58th minute, Ezequiel Ponce doubled the advantage from the spot in the 65th minute and Jordan Larsson wrapped up scoring in the 90th.
Moses and his teammates will return on Monday home to Moscow, where they will continue preparations for the second half of the season, in which their first competitive game this calendar year comes up against city rivals, Dinamo Moscow in the Russian Cup on February 20.
In Turkey, Ugochukwu Oduenyi hit a screamer for FC Minaj of Ukraine in a pre-season friendly match against Olimpik Donetsk on neutral ground, as the 24-year-old struck into the roof the net for a spectacular goal.
Oduenyi, who until recently played in Austria, joined the Ukrainian club in the January transfer window and has been training with the team in Turkey ahead of the resumption of Russian Premier League action in two weeks, has now netted three goals for his new club.
In England, Semi Ajayi was in action for West Bromwich Albion in their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s English Premier League fixture, for which the 27-year-old was handed his 22nd league start this season and emerged as one of the standout performers for his side.
The former Rotherham United stopper formed a four-man defence formation along with Conor Townsend, Kyle Bartley and Lee Peltier, alongside who he featured for the duration of the game, during which he gained two tackles, made nine clearances, won four aerial contests and had a 67% successful pass rate.
Also in England on Sunday, Josh Maja was handed his English Premier League debut by Fulham’s coach, Scott Parker, but The Cottagers were held to a goalless draw by visiting West Ham United on Saturday evening.
Maja, who arrived at Craven Cottage the previous weekend on loan from Girondins-Bordeaux of France, was introduced to the game after 78 minutes, replacing Antonee Robinson for his first feel of action in the English top-flight and first game for Fulham following his deadline day deal.
While Tosin Adarabioyo and Ademola Lookman 90 minutes for the home team, their Nigerian pals and Fulham teammates Ola Aina and Josh Onomah remained rooted to the bench for the entirety of the game.
Lookman had a chance to open the scoring in the 36th minute but skidded his shot inches wide while Adarabioyo saw his header fly over after getting free from a corner, and Fulham equaled their longest run of eight home league games without a win, which was set in the early 1960s.
Everton’s utility layer, Alex Iwobi was also in action against Manchester United, as both sides shared the spoils with an entertaining 3-3 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday night, during which The Red Devils often looked lost defensively but were 2-0 up at the break thanks to Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes’ strikes
Iwobi, who had started ten of the last twelve matches played by the Toffees before the visit to Manchester, hopped off the bench for the final fifteen minutes, replacing Tom Davies, after Doucouré tapped home to halve the deficit three minutes after the restart and on 52 minutes James Rodríguez drilled the ball past de Gea to restore parity.
