African players in Europe

LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) Ghanaian Michael Essien scored a spectacular swerving 30-metre goal for Chelsea today as African players hit the headlines in Europe's leading leagues.

ENGLAND Midfielder Essien was in outstanding form as champions Chelsea fought back to draw 1-1 with London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

He scored in the closing minutes when he ran on to a pass from England midfielder Frank Lampard and struck a powerful shot with the outside of his right foot that appeared to be going wide until it arced inside a post.

Essien had earlier had a shot cleared off the line and then hit the bar in the closing seconds during a frantic finale.

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba was cautioned in the match following an altercation with Arsenal's German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Elsewhere, Nigeria's Obafemi Martins scored two superb goals for Newcastle United in their 3-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers.

His first was shot powerfully into the top corner from the edge of the area. For the second, the 22-year-old former Inter Milan striker beat two defenders before shooting into an unguarded net, Blackburn's American goalkeeper Brad Friedel having ventured into the Newcastle penalty area for a corner.

Senegal's El-Hadji Diouf scored a delightful solo effort for Bolton Wanderers in their 4-0 victory over West Ham United. The 25-year-old collected the ball on the left wing and ran through the West Ham defence before shooting past goalkeeper Robert Green.

It was his fifth goal of the season.

Tunisian Hatem Trabelsi scored his first ever goal for Manchester City as they lost 3-1 at Manchester United. The ex-Ajax player scored with a majestic left-foot curling shot from the edge of the area.

Middlesbrough's 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic was decided by the sides' respective African strikers. Nigeria's Ayegbeni Yakubu scored for Middlesbrough after Senegal's Henri Camara had put Wigan ahead with a penalty.

Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu was at the centre of Portsmouth's 2-0 win over Everton, scoring an exquisite left foot volley after assisting for team-mate Matthew Taylor's spectacular 40-metres volleyed goal.

Kanu is top scorer in the Premier League with nine goals.

SPAIN Mali's Frederic Kanoute scored his 11th goal of the season as Sevilla beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a hard fought top-of-the-table match.

Former England captain David Beckham put Real ahead with a trademark free kick, but Kanoute equalised and Ernesto Chevanton secured the win.

Nigeria's Ikechukwu Uche came on as a substitute to score his fourth of the season for Recreativo Huelva as they lost 4-2 away to Athletic Bilbao.

FRANCE Tunisia's Issam Jomaa scored in the final minute to secure Racing Lens a 1-0 victory away to Toulouse. The result keeps Lens second, but moves them two points clear of Lille.

Ivory Coast forward Abdul Kader Keita scored as Lille drew 2-2 with St Etienne.

Ivory Coast's Kanga Akale scored to earn a draw for Auxerre in their 3-3 encounter with Troyes while Senegal's Mamadou Niang netted his fifth of the season in Olympique Marseille's 2-1 victory over AS Monaco.

Bottom club Sedan Ardennes slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Lorient with Algeria's Rafik Saifi scoring for Lorient.

NETHERLANDS Ivory Coast's Aruna Kone and Moroccan midfielder Ibrahim Affelay hit the goals for leaders PSV Eindhoven in their 2-0 win away to FC Groningen. The win was their tenth consecutive league victory and leaves them seven points clear.

Reuters SAM RN1840