FORM GUIDE: Ahmed assists in Norwich debut, Awujo scores screamer for United

While the Canadian men’s national team took on Guatemala on Saturday night with its top North American-based players, several national team regulars were in action across Europe this past weekend. 

Here are this week’s notable stories and performances from both the men’s and women’s national team player pool:  

Ali Ahmed impresses in Norwich City debut 

It took Ahmed just nine minutes to make a splash in his Championship debut. Cutting down the left wing, he provided one of his signature cutting balls into the box, creating an assist and opening the scoring for Norwich. They would go on to beat Wrexham 2-1. 

In 45 minutes of action, Ahmed completed 13 of 15 passes, had two dribbles, but won just two of seven duels. 

Norwich are next in action on Tuesday against West Brom as they continue to look to dig themselves out of the relegation zone in the Championship. West Brom sit just four points in front of the Canaries, in 19th. 

Simi Awujo scores a banger for Manchester United 

On Sunday, Simi Awujo scored her first goal for Manchester United and did so in style in a 5-0 FA Cup victory over Burnley. 

In the first half, she picked up the ball outside the box before cutting past multiple players and curling a strike into the opposite top corner. 

Awujo went the full 90 in the match, which will hopefully give her a big boost heading into the second half of the campaign, as well as national team camps coming up soon. 

In other action… 

CanMNT

Promise David had another spectacular week, scoring a stunning opener (past Luc de Fougerolles no less) in a 2-0 win in the Belgian Cup quarter-final, he added the only goal in a 1-0 win over Mechelen in league action. It was his ninth of the season, as he remains top of the Belgian league in scoring. 

Owen Goodman made the move to Barnsley this week on loan from Crystal Palace after failing to get minutes of late with Huddersfield Town. He had a dramatic debut against Blackpool, with his side winning 2-1 on a 90+3-minute goal. 

Luc de Fougerolles went 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Cup but did not feature during Dender’s weekend league match. 

Alphonso Davies was an 82nd-minute substitute for Bayern Munich, and was on the pitch for three Bayern goals as they defeated RB Leipzig 5-1. 

Tajon Buchanan went 75 minutes for Villarreal in a tough 2-0 loss to Real Betis in La Liga action, Tani Oluwaseyi was an unused substitute. 

Nathan Saliba went the full 90 in a 1-0 Belgian Cup victory over Gent, before going the 90 again as his side lost 4-2 to Gent in the league. 

Stephen Eustáquio came on for the final two minutes of Porto’s 1-0 victory over Benfica in the Taça de Portugal, but was an unused sub for a win by that same scoreline at the weekend in the league against Vitoria. 

Ismaël Koné was held out of Sassuolo’s match against Napoli with a bone bruise. He is being evaluated on a week-to-week basis. 

Liam Millar started and went 75 minutes in Hull City’s 2-1 win over Southampton on Saturday. 

Jonathan David started and went 88 minutes in Juventus’ 1-0 loss to Cagliari. 

CanWNT 

Emily Burns was in net for FC Nantes and kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Saint-Etienne on Saturday. 

Marie Levasseur went the full 90 for Montpellier in a 1-1 draw with Dijon on Saturday. 

Jade Rose went 56 minutes in Manchester City’s 6-0 FA Cup victory over Bournemouth. 

Ashley Lawrence was an 81st-minute substitute for OL Lyonnes as they drew 0-0 with Paris FC. 

Olivia Smith started and went 71 minutes in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the women’s FA Cup, Sabrina D’Angelo did not feature for Villa. 

Evelyne Viens strong stretch of offensive contributions continued, as she had an assist in Roma’s 2-1 win over Sassuolo.