A hat-trick of African goals contributed to the dramatic English

Premier League defeats of giants Chelsea, Manchester United and

Liverpool at the weekend.

Ghanaian Andre Ayew continued his fairy-tale start at Swansea by

equalising, then creating the winner in a 2-1 come-from-behind home

triumph over United.

Malian Bakary Sako was involved in both goals as Crystal Palace

shocked Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, scoring the first and creating

the second.

A stoppage-time goal by Senegalese Diafra Sakho completed a stunning 3-0 West Ham United success at Liverpool.

ENGLAND

ANDRE AYEW (Swansea City)

Ghana midfielder Ayew was his team’s inspiration as Swansea came from

behind to defeat previously unbeaten Manchester United 2-1 at a raucous

Liberty Stadium. The former Marseille player, son of Ghana legend Abedi

Pele, equalised with a well-taken 61st-minute header — his third goal

of the campaign — before creating the winner for Bafetimbi Gomis five

minutes later with a glorious pass from the right-hand touchline.

BAKARY SAKO (Crystal Palace)

Following a winning goal against Aston Villa on his debut, Mali

forward Sako scored one goal and made another as Crystal Palace claimed a

first win at Chelsea since 1982. Sako swept a cross from Congolese

Yannick Bolasie past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 65th

minute and then set up Joel Ward for a headed winner after Radamel

Falcao had equalised for the champions.

DIAFRA SAKHO (West Ham United)

Senegal striker Sakho ended a difficult week with a goal as West Ham

won 3-0 at Liverpool. Arrested earlier in the week on suspicion of

making threats to kill and witness intimidation following an earlier

arrest on suspicion of assault, Sakho struck in injury time at Anfield

to seal West Ham’s first away win over Liverpool in 52 years.

SADIO MANE (Southampton)

Linked to Manchester United in recent weeks, Mane set up the first

two goals as Southampton beat Norwich City 3-0 to claim their first win

of the campaign. The Senegalese winger set up Graziano Pelle in

first-half stoppage time and then teed up Dusan Tadic in the 64th

minute, with both goals first-time finishes from low, right-wing

crosses.

SPAIN

CEDRIC BAKAMBU (Villarreal)

Democratic Republic of Congo forward Bakambu came off the bench to

score his first two goals for Villarreal with two calm finishes from

close range to hand the Yellow Submarine their first victory of the

season in a 3-1 success over Espanyol.

YOUSSEF EL ARABI, ISAAC SUCCESS (Granada)

Moroccan forward El Arabi converted from the penalty spot before

Nigerian Success slotted home a second for Granada as they picked up

their first points of the season in a 2-1 win at Getafe.

CARLOS KAMENI (Malaga)

Cameroonian goalkeeper Kameni made a hat-trick of fine saves from

Lionel Messi, but his performance couldn’t salvage a point for Malaga at

the Camp Nou as Barcelona edged a nervy 1-0 win.

ITALY

MOHAMED SALAH (Roma)

Salah produced one of his most useful performances in Serie A, the

Egyptian’s pace, vision and sheer physical presence giving Roma plenty

of options and Juve plenty of problems as the Giallorossi claimed a 2-1

win over the Italian champions at the Stadio Olimpico. He created space,

allowing Roma to maintain a high-intensity, attacking game.

SERGE GAKPE (Genoa)

Togolese international Gakpe has taken only two games to score his

maiden goal for Genoa, and it seems to be down to him playing a more

central role in Gian Pietro Gasperini’s attack. Gakpe, who was brilliant

throughout, put the match beyond the reach of visiting Verona with a

well-taken goal 15 minutes from the end for a 2-0 win.

FRANCE

SOFIANE BOUFAL (Lille)

Moroccan midfielder Boufal was described as “talented” and

“effective” by his Lille coach Herve Renard after scoring the winning

goal in a 1-0 success against Gazelec-Ajaccio. Boufal, Lille’s

playmaker, ran onto a pass from Djibril Sidibe to dink home a clever

finish on 23 minutes.

GIOVANNI SIO (Rennes)

The Ivory Coast forward was in the right place at the right time to

add gloss to Rennes’ victory over Toulouse with a last-minute goal in a

3-1 victory. Sio tapped home from close range after fine work from

Paul-Georges Ntep on the left wing as Rennes moved up to third.

WAHBI KHAZRI (Bordeaux)

The Tunisia attacking midfielder scored the crucial first goal as

Bordeaux earned their first win of the season against Nantes 2-0. Khazri

combined well with Enzo Crivelli to slot home in first-half time added

on. That went some way to saving the Franco-Tunisian’s blushes after he

saw his terrible attempt at a ‘Panenka’ penalty easily saved by

goalkeeper Remy Riou.

GERMANY

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Borussia Dortmund)

The Gabon striker scored his seventh goal in eight games in all

competitions this season as Borussia Dortmund reclaimed top spot in the

Bundesliga with a 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin. He enjoyed a simple tap-in

on 51 minutes when right-back Matthias Ginter and Japan’s Shinji Kagawa

combined to set him up.

SALOMON KALOU (Hertha Berlin)

The Ivory Coast veteran claimed his second goal in three league games

by netting Hertha’s consolation in their 3-1 defeat to Dortmund. Kalou

became the first player to score against Dortmund in the league this

season when he stabbed home on 78 minutes before Adrian Ramos scored the

hosts’ third just before the final whistle.