Zabiri treble leads African goal rush across Europe

African footballers played decisive roles across Europe at the weekend, with Yassine Zabiri making history by scoring a hat-trick as Racing Santander recorded their first LaLiga victory in 14 years.

The Morocco international struck three times in the first half as Racing beat Elche 3-2. Zabiri opened the scoring after 15 minutes and added a second six minutes later before completing his treble in the 36th minute, volleying in Inigo Vicente’s cross.

The 21-year-old became only the fourth Moroccan this century to score a LaLiga hat-trick and the second-earliest African player to do so after Cameroon great Samuel Eto’o. His achievement also ended Racing’s 22-year wait for a top-flight hat-trick at El Sardinero.

In the Premier League, Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo scored as Manchester United recovered from a difficult start to beat Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford and claim their first league win of the season.

Mbeumo initially hit the crossbar from close range after meeting Marcus Rashford’s cross. He made amends in the second half when Bruno Fernandes, having completed his hat-trick, supplied the forward with a pass.

Mbeumo lifted the ball over Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen and watched as his effort struck the bar before crossing the line.

Malick Yalcouye scored his first Premier League goal as Brighton pushed Chelsea close in a 4-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had established a 3-0 lead before the Ivory Coast youth international gave Brighton hope with a superb volley that went in off the post beyond goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Pascal Groß then reduced the deficit further.

Cole Palmer restored Chelsea’s two-goal advantage, but Groß scored again in stoppage time. Xabi Alonso’s side held on to secure the victory.

Yoane Wissa also found the net in the Premier League, producing an acrobatic finish as Newcastle United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.

Anthony Elanga opened the scoring for the visitors after a fine move involving Nico Gonzalez and Amar Dedic. Tottenham struggled to break down Newcastle goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek as they attempted to respond.

DR Congo international Wissa doubled Newcastle’s lead from another corner with a spectacular finish.

The defeat left Spurs pointless and goalless after two matches, while Newcastle recorded their 14th away league victory against the London club.

Ademola Lookman scored for Atletico Madrid in a 3-1 victory over Sevilla that ended the hosts’ perfect start to the LaLiga season.

Lookman doubled Atletico’s advantage in the 19th minute, finding the near corner with a low finish after Sevilla failed to cope with the visitors’ attacking pressure. The Nigeria international thought he had scored again soon after half-time, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Alex Baena scored twice to put Atletico firmly in control before Miguel Sierra pulled one back for Sevilla. Lookman and his team-mates remained comfortable for the rest of the match.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also on target in Spain as Deportivo La Coruna claimed their first LaLiga victory since promotion with a 3-1 win over Valencia.

The Gabon striker made it 2-0 in the 17th minute with an exquisite finish after Mario Soriano sent him through behind the defence. Valencia halved the deficit when Umar Sadiq capitalised on a defensive error and scored from close range.

Aubameyang continued to threaten after the break and forced several saves as Deportivo searched for a third goal. An own goal eventually restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage and secured the points.

In Serie A, Hassane Kamara scored a fortunate goal during Udinese’s 3-2 win over Monza, preserving their unbeaten start to the season.

The Ivorian’s effort came in first-half stoppage time, when a seemingly harmless long-range shot was inexplicably palmed into his own net by Monza goalkeeper Demba Thiam.

Kamara’s goal gave Udinese a 2-1 lead after Jakub Piotrowski had opened the scoring and Andrea Colpani had equalised for the hosts. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp then struck a superb half-volley moments later to put Udinese 3-1 ahead at half-time.

Gustavo Varela pulled another goal back for Monza after the interval, but Udinese resisted sustained pressure to take all three points. The result left Monza with consecutive defeats and only one win in their past 24 home league matches.

Emmanuel Latte Lath marked his Union Berlin debut with a goal as his new side recovered from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Ivory Coast forward scored after only three minutes, rising above Raphael Onyedika to head Josip Juranovic’s corner past Noah Atubolu.

Frankfurt responded and eventually moved 3-1 ahead through a hat-trick from Younes Ebennou. Union Berlin refused to give up, however, with Leopold Querfeld heading in before Tim Skarke completed the comeback in the 92nd minute.

Christian Kofane scored a dramatic late winner as Elversberg stunned Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 in their first-ever Bundesliga match.

Elversberg established a remarkable 3-0 lead through Lukas Petkov, Cole Campbell and David Mokwa, leaving the 2023/24 champions shocked. Patrik Schick pulled one back for Leverkusen and set up a tense finish.

Kofane then settled the contest in stoppage time. He reacted quickest to the rebound after Victor Boniface’s effort struck the crossbar and smashed the ball into the net.

Leverkusen searched for an equaliser, but Elversberg held on to complete a famous victory.

Louis Mafouta scored twice for Le Mans, although Stade Rennais eventually won a dramatic Ligue 1 match 3-2.

Rennes moved two goals ahead through Esteban Lepaul and Valentin Rongier before Central African Republic international Mafouta reduced the deficit by poking Lucas Calodat’s dangerous cross into the net.

The goal was a significant one for Le Mans, marking their first Ligue 1 strike in 16 years. Mafouta then completed his brace from the penalty spot after a VAR review found that Przemys?aw Frankowski had handled the ball inside the area.

Le Mans competed strongly despite being reduced to 10 men, but Lepaul scored a stoppage-time penalty to deny them a point.

Moroccan winger Gessime Yassine scored twice as Strasbourg came from behind to beat Lens 2-1 and claim their first Ligue 1 points of the campaign.

Florian Thauvin gave Lens the lead from the penalty spot, but Yassine levelled with a deflected shot to begin Strasbourg’s comeback.

The winger remained a threat and appeared to have completed the turnaround when his cross reached Sebastian Nanasi, whose rebound was converted by Jacobo Ortega. VAR ruled the goal out for offside.

Yassine was not to be denied, though, and with five minutes remaining he volleyed in a lofted cross to complete Strasbourg’s comeback and inflict Lens’ first defeat of the season.