Five Nigerian players were on song in the English Championship on Wednesday, as Arnaut Danjuma, Dominic Solanke and Philip Anyanwu Billing all made hay for Bournemouth, while Uche Ikpeazu and Adebayo Akinfenwa were on song with Wycombe Wanderers, megasportsarena.com reports.
While Ikpeazu and Akinfenwa’s goals ensured Wycombe kept up their spirited battle to escape the drop from England’s lower division, it was ecstasy all the way for Danjuma, Billing and Solanke, as their hits helped Bournemouth to a commanding 4-1 win over Millwall at The Den.
Billing, Solanke and Danjuma were all named to The Cherries’ starting 11 by the team’s coach, Jonathan Woodgate and they maintained the fine run that has seen them score a combined total of 38 goals this season, more than half registered by the entire Bournemouth squad.
Billing opened scoring in the 16th minute with an assist from Solanke, Danjuma doubled the advantage in the 27th and Solanke bagged his second assist of the game in the 44th minute as The Cherries went into the break 3-0 up.
Solanke then cemented his fine performance with a goal, as he slotted past Millwall’s keeper following a one-two with Billing midway through the second half, and the Vitality Stadium outfit climbed to third on the Championship table with 77 points.
Same night in the Championship, Akinfenwa’s penalty in the third minute of stoppage time gave Wycombe an extraordinary 2-1 victory over Bristol City to keep their Championship slim survival hopes alive.
Defeat against The Robins would have effectively relegated The Chairboys and they were staring into the abyss after Tyreeq Bakinson’s stunner left them trailing at half-time, before which City’s Han-Noah Massengo had the first chance after six minutes when he brought down a long ball before prodding a shot just wide of the near post.
Later on, Ikpeazu’s header levelled matters before Akinfenwa kept his cool at the death to score his first goal in English football’s second tier to move his side six points off fourth-from-bottom Derby.
Garath McCleary then got in behind down the left from Ikpeazu’s flick-on before his improvised lob from a difficult angle dropped out of the sky and wide, as The Chairboys began to make most of the running.
However, they could do nothing about Bakinson opening the scoring in the 28th minute when he brilliantly swept Adam Nagy’s pass into the top corner from long range, following which Wycombe continued to plug away in attack without success and turned to youngster Anis Mehmeti from the bench as they searched for an equaliser in the last half-hour.
The change paid off in the 65th minute, as Mehmeti played in a peach of a cross from the right that was powered into the net at the back post by the head of Ikpeazu and the big striker almost completed the turnaround three minutes later after Diedhiou’s defensive header dropped his way, but Bentley was able to hold on to his overhead kick.
Akinfenwa then had a curling effort clawed around the post in the 88th minute, but the big man got one more chance to win it deep into added time, and it came from a shot by Stockdale, who had remained up from a corner.
Akinfenwa sent Bentley the wrong way to spark wild celebrations, after which Wycombe’s coach, Gareth Ainsworth said: “When I saw Bayo pick up the ball for the penalty, Joe Jacobson’s usually the penalty-taker. He had a knock.
“I thought he had a nasty injury, but then he walked over and took the corner that ended with David Stockdale’s shot gaining the penalty. It was just madness and to try and compute it all is impossible. I’m going to have to watch the replays on that one.”
