Goal Number 23!!! Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez Burying Country Woes With Manchester City Performances.

Riyad Mahrez scored his 23rd goal of the season to end Manchester City’s 53 minute toil for a goal against Brighton in the English Premier League on Wednesday evening.

A goalless first half sparked a step up in performance for the second half by Pep Guardiola’s men and they deservedly took the lead through Mahrez seven minutes before the hour mark.

The Algerian winger who is enjoying a remarkable season wrote his name in the competition’s history books as Manchester City defeated Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 in Wednesday’s Premier League fixture.

He became the ninth African to boast 250 English elite division appearances. 139 of those caps came during his time at Leicester City, while the remaining 111 has been achieved at City.

Other Africans to reach this point include Kolo Toure (Cote d’Ivoire), Shola Ameobi (Nigeria), Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Nigeria), Wilfried Zaha (Cote d’Ivoire), Sadio Mane (Senegal), and Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal).

Twelve minutes after his goal, the 2016 African Player of the Year set up Phil Foden who beat goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to double the city’s advantage.

Bernardo Silva striked late on to ensure the reigning English champions dethrone Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as league leaders.

City’s top scorer this season, Mahrez was in action from start to finish.  His 23 goals in all competitions for Manchester City this season is among players for Premier League clubs only bettered by a record held by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah .

Riyad Mahrez and Manchester City will host relegation-threatened Watford next, and will surely fancy their chances of adding another victory.

A good way to bury thoughts that Algeria will not be at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.