Serge N’Gal scored a pair of goals in each leg of Inter Turku’s Intertoto Cup match. In the USA, Alain Nkong netted his 2nd goal of the season.
Intertoto Cup
Last week saw both legs of the 2nd Round of the Intertoto Cup take place in Europe and the big Cameroonian performer was forward Serge N’Gal of FC Inter Turku of Finland. In Inter Turku’s first leg match, away to Croatia’s NK Varteks, N’Gal scored twice in minutes 9 and 75 but it was not enough as NK Varteks won the high scoring match 4-3. This past weekend in the return leg in Finland, N’Gal again scored two goals in the 17th and 58th minutes as Inter Turku was leading 2-1 and was ready to move onto the next round on away goals when in the 4th minute of added time, NK Varteks scored to tie the leg 2-2 and advance 6-5 on aggregate. A heart breaking loss for Inter Turku and N’gal who scored 4 of his club’s 5 goals in the two legs. But despite the loss keep an eye out for the 19 year old N’Gal who has already scored 6 times in the new Finnish league season.
NK Varteks will now play Lens of France in the third round of the Intertoto Cup starting later this week after Lens defeated Lech Poznan of Poland 3-1 on aggregate. In the first leg, played in France, Lens won 2-1 with Benoit Assou Ekotto starting at left back and crossing the ball for Lens’ opening goal. In the return leg won by his club 1-0, Assou Ekotto again played left back.
Forward Ahmadou Rabihou also was in action in the Intertoto Cup, as he started at forward and played the first 74 minutes of his club Sturm Graz (Austria) 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg of Germany. Rabihou did not play in the 2nd leg as Wolfsburg advanced with a 3-1 victory.
Russia
This past weekend Jerry Christian Tchuisse started at right back as FK Moscow were defeated 1-0 by Saturn. Serge Branco also started at left wing back for Shinnik Yaroslavl as his club also were defeated 2-0 by Rubin Kazan. In the 88th minute, Branco had a shot well saved by Rubin Kazan’s goalkeeper.
The previous week, Tchuisse again started at right back as FK Moscow beat Shinnik Yaroslavl 1-0. Serge Branco was once again Shinnik’s left wing back. Playing his first match with his new club Lokomotiv Moscow after the transfer window opened, was central defender Andre Bikey, who entered as a sub in the 72nd minute of current league champion Lokomotiv’s 4-0 win over Terek Grozny.
Sweden
In Sweden, Joseph Elanga started at left back as Malmo were held to a scoreless draw by Halmstads.
Norway
In Norway, Somen a Tchoyi started at midfield and played the first 64 minutes of the match before being subbed out as his club Odd Grenland were defeated 3-0 by Valerenga.
Latvia
In Latvia, Aarong Nguimbat started at centerback as Skonto Riga beat FK Venta 1-0.
United States
In the United States, Alain Nkong started for Colorado and scored his second goal of the season on a header off of a corner kick in the 57th minute as Colorado defeated Kansas City 2-1.
Uruguay
The first of two league seasons to be played in Uruguay this calendar year ended last week and Plaza Colonia drew 0-0 with Rampla Juniors and finished 16th in the 18 team league. Abdul Njankou was suspended for the match but Alain Yombi at fullback and Antoine Helha at forward each started for Plaza. Helha was subbed off after 87 minutes and replaced by countryman Martin Belinga.