PARIS, France (AFP) — Nigerian John Obi Mikel broke his 185-match English Premier League goal drought at the weekend by scoring for Chelsea in a 2-0 win over Fulham.

A close-range half-volley brought immense relief to the midfielder, whose two other goals for the ‘Blues’ came in the FA Cup six seasons ago.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure was among the Manchester City scorers in a 4-1 derby rout of Manchester United.

ENGLAND

JOHN OBI MIKEL (Chelsea)

Nigeria midfielder Mikel finally scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea in a 2-0 win over Fulham. The 26-year-old holding midfielder, whose two other Chelsea goals came in the FA Cup in 2007, hooked home a half-volley from a John Terry knock-down in the 84th minute at Stamford Bridge.

SAMUEL ETO’O (Chelsea)

Four-time African Player of the Year Eto’o marked his home league debut for Chelsea by creating the opening goal against Fulham. The Cameroon superstar was denied by visiting goalkeeper David Stockdale in the 52nd minute but Oscar put the rebound away to break the deadlock.

YAYA TOURE

(Manchester City)

Ivory Coast powerhouse Toure played a starring role as City inflicted a memorable 4-1 defeat on derby rivals Manchester United. His marauding presence helped the hosts dominate United in midfield and he scored City’s second goal with a close-range finish from a corner to take his tally for the season to four goals.

STEPHANE SESSEGNON

(West Bromwich Albion)

Fate decreed that Sessegnon would make his West Brom debut against his former club Sunderland and he duly opened the scoring in a 3-0 home win. The Benin midfielder struck in the 20th minute, pouncing to convert a rebound after visiting goalkeeper Keiren Westwood saved from Scott Sinclair.

SONE ALUKO (Hull City)

Hull forward Aluko timed his first Premier League goal to perfection to give the promoted side a 3-2 win over Newcastle United in a thrilling game at St James’ Park. The Nigeria international settled the game in the 76th minute with a sweet 18-yard volley from George Boyd’s left-wing cross.

FRANCE

FOUED KADIR (Rennes)

The Algerian midfielder, on loan from Marseille, netted twice on his home debut to steer Rennes to a 2-0 victory over winless Ajaccio. Kadir put Rennes ahead after 13 minutes as he collected the ball, cut inside Benjamin Andre and curled a sumptuous finish beyond Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Kadir added to his tally three minutes later, latching onto Jean Makoun’s long free kick before chesting down and finishing past Ochoa.

VINCENT ABOUBAKAR (Lorient)

The Cameroon striker continued his fine start to his Lorient career with his third goal of the season in a 3-3 draw at home to Bordeaux. Trailing to an early penalty from Mali forward Cheick Diabate that was conceded after Aboubakar handled in the area, the Cameroonian made amends with a magnificent strike that sailed over Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso to draw Lorient level after 23 minutes.

ISSIAGA SYLLA (Toulouse)

The Guinean scored a 75th-minute winner to hand Toulouse their first victory of the season as they beat high-flying Saint-Etienne 2-1. The left-back slotted home a low cross from Ivorian defender Serge Aurier for his first goal of the season to help propel Toulouse out of the relegation zone.

GERMANY

KEVIN-PRINCE BOATENG (Schalke 04)

The Ghana midfielder has said Schalke have nothing to be ashamed of, despite suffering their worst home defeat in 32 years after losing 4-0 to European champions Bayern Munich. Boateng said the Royal Blues had lost against “probably the best team in the world. But now we will not hang our heads and mope.” His half-brother, Jerome Boateng, was at centre-back for Bayern.

IBRAHIMA TRAORE (VfB Stuttgart)

The Guinea midfielder came off the bench for the last 22 minutes of Stuttgart’s 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt and won a penalty deep in added time after being fouled by Sebastian Rode. Bosnia striker Vedad Ibisevic missed the spot-kick to leave Stuttgart and Frankfurt in mid-table.

ITALY

KWADWO ASAMOAH (Juventus)

As usual, Ghana international Asamoah used his powerful physique to good effect on the left wing for Juventus. Despite dominating throughout, the champions were frustrated by Serie A new boys Verona before running out 2-1 winners in Turin, a result which left Antonio Conte’s men in fifth place, two points adrift of new leaders Roma.

SAPHIR TAIDER (Inter)

Algerian international Taider started his second full game for Inter and made a significant contribution with his maiden goal for the Nerazzurri in a 7-0 rout over promoted Serie A strugglers Sassuolo in the 23rd minute. Taider played a pivotal role in Inter’s third when his header came off Raffaele Pucino for an own goal barely 10 minutes later.

SULLEY MUNTARI

(AC Milan)

Ghana midfielder Muntari perhaps exemplified Milan’s first-half performance against a dominant Napoli when he fired a long-range effort well over Pepe Reina’s crossbar. Milan improved after half-time but succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, their first against Napoli at the San Siro in 27 years, that left the Rossoneri in 11th place.

RUSSIA

DELE ADELEYE

(Anzhi Makhachkala)

The Nigerian defender had a Russian debut to forget as Anzhi lost 2-1 to Volga at Nizhny Novgorod.

MUBARAK WAKASO (Rubin Kazan)

The Ghana midfielder came off the bench at the start of the second half and was yellow carded within three minutes. A 2-1 home defeat by Tomsk completed a miserable day for the west African.

IBRAHIMA BALDE (Kuban Krasnodar)

The Senegalese forward proved ineffective as Kuban crumbled 3-0 at home against Amkar Perm.

SPAIN

NABIL EL ZHAR, PAPE DIOP (Levante)

Moroccan El Zhar and Senegalese Diop were on target as Levante came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Almeria. El Zhar’s 55th-minute penalty brought Joaquin Caparros’ men back into the game before Diop wonderfully volleyed home Sergio Pinto’s corner five minutes later.

ALEX SONG (Barcelona)

Cameroon international Song started for just the second time this season and played the full 90 minutes as Barca maintained their 100 per cent start to the league season with a 4-0 win at Rayo Vallecano.

STEPHANE M’BIA (Sevilla)

Cameroonian M’Bia set up Kevin Gameiro to equalise for Sevilla early in the second half of their encounter with Valencia, but it wasn’t enough for the Andalusians as they went on to lose 3-1.