Africans Abroad: Minteh and Pepe on target as Jackson and Durosinmi see red

[h2]England[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/minteh-yankuba/0Kp8MqA5/"]Yankuba Minteh[/a] proved decisive as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] secured a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brighton-2XrRecc3/sunderland-WSzc94ws/?mid=0SK4C6ft"]1–0 victory[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a] at the Stadium of Light.[/p][p]The Gambia international helped the Seagulls earn their first win at the ground and extended their unbeaten run against promoted sides in the Premier League to 12 matches.[/p][p]Minteh was influential early on, delivering a low cross that should have given [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hinshelwood-jack/0IBtygvF/"]Jack Hinshelwood[/a] the opener, but goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ellborg-melker/fLFMhsis/"]Melker Ellborg[/a] produced a brilliant stop. He remained Brighton’s main attacking threat as the visitors battled a resilient Black Cats side.[/p][embed guid="603782ac-1404-4f94-a926-6f4483d0eba0" url="https://x.com/OfficialBHAFC/status/2032940369541841066" social-type="twitter" /][p]The breakthrough arrived just before the hour when the winger chased down a cleared corner, reached the byline and sent a cross that swerved beyond Ellborg at the near post. [/p][p]Although Sunderland pressed late, Brighton held firm to move above the hosts on goal difference after 30 matches.[/p][image alt="Chris Rigg and Ferdi Kadioglu" id="fbb6f507-82bf-4422-a807-1c417d752aa0" credit-line="Greig Cowie / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia" guid="8624773c-b425-4d82-bd2d-e79189426b3c" original-width="1400" original-height="976" /][h2]Spain[/h2][p]Man-of-the-match [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pepe-nicolas/j3Hk0qEj/"]Nicolas Pepe[/a] delivered late drama as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/villarreal/lUatW5jE/"]Villarreal[/a] salvaged a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/alaves-hxt57t2q/villarreal-lUatW5jE/?mid=MNzPtaT0"]1–1 draw[/a] against Deportivo Alaves in LaLiga, striking a stunning 98th-minute equaliser to deny the hosts victory in Vitoria-Gasteiz.[/p][p]The Ivorian had endured a frustrating evening for much of the match as the Yellow Submarine struggled to find rhythm away from home. [/p][p]Pepe went close before half-time but fired over after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sivera-antonio/lMLBCMLN/"]Antonio Sivera[/a] denied earlier attempts from the visitors. After the break, he remained one of Villarreal’s liveliest threats, seeing a deflected left-footed effort drift narrowly wide as the visitors searched for a breakthrough.[/p][p]Alaves had taken the lead in the first half when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marin-rafa/KIwYY1AC/"]Rafa Marín[/a] turned the ball into his own net following clever play from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-toni/rw0nledT/"]Toni Martínez[/a]. [/p][p]However, with time almost up, the African seized his moment, unleashing a powerful left-footed strike that flew past Sivera to rescue a crucial point for Villarreal.[/p][embed guid="2a7aed11-a932-4e0f-b3d4-c3033718820f" url="https://x.com/VillarrealCFen/status/2032588387954102369" social-type="twitter" /][p]Elsewhere, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a] was on target as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/girona/nNNpcUSL/"]Girona[/a] eased relegation concerns with an impressive 3–0 victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ath-bilbao/IP5zl0cJ/"]Athletic Club[/a].[/p][p]The White and Reds had taken an early lead when loanee [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rincon-lumbreras-hugo/rBfMulYr/"]Hugo Rincon[/a] struck against his parent club after just four minutes, exposing Athletic’s defensive fragility. The visitors pushed for an equaliser, but goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gazzaniga-paulo/jB3F3wGi/"]Paulo Gazzaniga[/a] produced several key saves to keep Girona ahead[/p][p]With Athletic pressing, Ounahi delivered the decisive moment in the 78th minute. After an inventive overhead effort from Claudio Echeverri dropped into his path, the Moroccan international finished clinically first-time past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simon-unai/Ao9Vw3hi/"]Unai Simón[/a] to double the hosts’ advantage.[/p][p]Echeverri later sealed the result in stoppage time to help Girona move nine points clear of the relegation zone. [/p][image alt="Azzedine Ounahi" id="3b99b9dc-2449-415f-8e43-7a03e91eb59b" credit-line="ČTK / DPA / Siu Wu" guid="38c0c324-1878-49de-af0c-75e8cf0afcd2" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][h2]Italy[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/boga-jeremie/pEEqeFXD/"]Jeremie Boga[/a]’s first half strike proved the difference as Juventus climbed into the top four of Serie A with a narrow 1-0 victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/udinese/rXw8YKDE/"]Udinese[/a].[/p][p]The Ivorian was a constant threat for the visitors and tested goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/okoye-maduks/Gr6T6rIt/"]Maduka Okoye[/a] early with a sharp effort from a tight angle. [/p][p]Boga’s persistence paid off in the 38th minute when a flowing move released [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yildiz-kenan/0EgOZVie/"]Kenan Yildiz[/a] down the left, who squared for him to calmly tap home his third goal in as many matches.[/p][p]While Udinese pushed for an equaliser, the Bianconeri stayed composed to secure a vital away win that strengthens their push for Champions League qualification.[/p][embed guid="3e85628e-c797-4f96-adec-eacaa07b715c" url="https://x.com/juventusfcen/status/2032917085584609741" social-type="twitter" /][p]In another thrilling Serie A fixture, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/adekunle-durosinmi/vJVd8Pk2/"]Rafiu Durosinmi[/a] endured a frustrating moment after receiving a red card during Serie A action as Pisa silenced Cagliari 3-1.[/p][p]The Nigerian international was sent off in the 37th minute following a heated duel with Colombian defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mina-yerry/0hqx5eWc/"]Yerry Mina[/a].[/p][p]Mina repeatedly battled Durosinmi physically before going down after contact, prompting referee Federico La Penna to issue a straight red card. Despite the setback, Pisa rallied impressively to secure a victory at home.[/p][h2]Germany[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jackson-nicolas/jXg8d5RJ/"]Nicolas Jackson[/a] was sent off during Bayern Munich’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bayer-leverkusen-4jcj2zMd/bayern-munich-nVp0wiqd/?mid=AqZxvfGl"]1–1 draw[/a] with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.[/p][p]The Senegal international had struggled to make an impact in attack, with two early efforts failing to seriously test goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blaswich-janis/8WPrgkw2/"]Janis Blaswich[/a]. [/p][p]His night worsened when he received a straight red card for a late challenge on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/terrier-martin/xlu6948L/"]Martin Terrier[/a], becoming the first Bayern player sent off in a Bundesliga match in over a year.[/p][p]Despite going down to ten men, the Bavarians fought back after Leverkusen’s early opener, with Luis Diaz eventually equalising. [/p][image alt="Nicolas Jackson" id="c6ff9bac-06a9-4f89-ad0b-d8db1a5b6be1" credit-line="ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Bahho Kara" guid="412e09fb-5215-4b33-8970-64d8417df0d0" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][h2]France[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dieng-bamba-cheikh-dieng/ba2ejA41/"]Bamba Dieng[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aiyegun-tosin/zTOOlq65/"]Tosin Aiyegun[/a] were on target as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lorient/jgNAYRGi/"]FC Lorient[/a] boosted their European hopes with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/lens-IBmris38/lorient-jgNAYRGi/?mid=AqkvVsFq"]2–1 victory[/a] over RC Lens in Ligue 1.[/p][p]Senegal international Dieng was lively from the start at the Stade du Moustoir, first dragging an effort wide before forcing a save from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/risser-robin/zHRwZwXF/"]Robin Risser[/a]. He soon made his pressure count, reacting quickest to stab home the rebound and give Lorient the lead.[/p][p]Lens responded after the break when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edouard-odsonne/0nQoakto/"]Odsonne Edouard[/a] finished neatly to level the match. However, Lorient regained control through substitute Aiyegun. [/p][p]The Benin international capitalised on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kouassi-arsene/WCC14cm0/"]Arsene Kouassi[/a]’s delivery, recovering from a heavy touch to bundle the ball past Risser for the winner.[/p][p]The victory lifts Lorient into eighth place, while Lens’ title ambitions suffered a damaging setback.[/p][image alt="Shina Oludare" id="adfb37ed-25f4-485a-a07d-3a0a4cc024eb" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="312de480-bd0c-467a-978f-5daa2094f88f" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]