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By Timothy Collings
LONDON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Mali midfielder Mohamed Sissoko scored his first goal for Liverpool to help his side register a 2-0 win at Sunderland on a weekend where African players made decisive contributions across Europe's major leagues.
Sissoko's long-range strike came 75 games into his career at the English Premier League club as the Merseysiders maintained their unbeaten run to the start of the season.
Also in England, Egyptian striker Mido scored his second goal in as many games for new club Middlesbrough as they drew 2-2 at home to bitter rivals Newcastle.
Mido capped his home debut with a well taken goal on 28 minutes after Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia had given the visitors the lead.
The powerful Egyptian latched on to a Fabio Rochemback through-ball and rounded the goalkeeper to slot into an empty net.
Australian Mark Viduka put Newcastle back in front before Julio Arca's late volley rescued a point for Mido's side.
On the opening day of the Spanish Primera Liga, Mali and Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute continued to impress in front of goal.
After scoring a hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup final, Kanoute wasted no time in opening his league account, poking home Sevilla's third goal in a rampant 4-1 win over Getafe on Saturday.
In the Netherlands, Ghanaian defensive midfielder Eric Addo scored a rare goal as champions PSV Eindhoven maintained their 100 percent start to the season by cruising to a 5-0 home victory over NEC.
Addo scored the second goal with a neat header and Otman Bakkal, a 22-year-old Dutch forward of Moroccan descent, scored the fifth a minute from time.
Elsewhere in the Eredivisie, talented Moroccan pair Nordin Amrabat and Samir El Gaaouiri each scored second-half goals for newly promoted VVV Venlo as they dispatched Excelsior 3-1.
MALONGA STRIKE
In France, Congolese midfielder Chris Malonga set AS Nancy on course for a 4-1 home win over Auxerre that put them top of Ligue 1.
Malonga opened the scoring with a powerful 37th minute drive and Nancy roared into a 4-0 lead, showing all the power and pace that has earned them 13 points from a possible 15 in the opening stages of the season.
Goals from Algerian Rafik Saifi and Tunisian Hamed Namouchi earned FC Lorient a valuable point at Girondins Bordeaux.
Valenciennes' Algerian midfielder Yassine Bezzaz scored a crucial 11th minute equaliser after visitors Sochaux took an early lead through Julien Quercia.
The home side built on Bezzaz's strike and eventually won 3-1 through goals from Frenchmen Eric Chelle and Steve Savidan.
A goal from Mali midfielder Sidi Yaya Keita could not prevent Racing Lens losing 2-1 to Racing Strasbourg.
The result prompted the resignation of veteran coach Guy Roux, who will be replaced by former France striker Jean-Pierre Papin.
An audacious goal from Mamadou Niang helped Olympique Marseille to a 2-1 victory at Caen.
Early in the second half, France forward Djibril Cisse crossed for Niang who bemused the Caen goalkeeper with a cheeky dummy before rolling the ball into the empty net.
Lille picked up a point at Paris St Germain courtesy of a goal from Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun.
Makoun's athletic header looked set to give draw-specialists Lille a precious three points but Pierre-Alain Frau followed up a missed penalty to earn PSG a draw in the 85th minute.
