Racing Genk of Belgium back-to-form striker, Cyriel Dessers again got the better outing than his teammate and compatriot, Paul Ebere Onuachu, even as they were both on top of their game in their side’s spanking of Royal Antwerp on Thursday.
Megasportsarena.com reports that Onuachu and Dessers both delivered spectacular performances as the Blue and White handed a heavy defeat to Franky Vercauteren‘s team.
While Dessers hit target, Onuachu provided an assist as Genk secured a 4-0 victory in the Belgian First Division A Championship Group game at Luminus Arena.
Dessers got off Genk’s bench in place of Onuachu, who got a starting role and utilized the opportunity to continue his impressive performances, but had to settle for only an assist this time out.
With two minutes left to the half-time break, Kristian Thorstvedt broke the deadlock and then doubled their lead in the 49th minute after benefitting from Onuachu’s assist.
Thorstvedt completed his hat-trick moments after the hour mark before Dessers went on for Onuachu in the 74th minute and sealed the victory few seconds after his introduction.
Dessers, who has spent the entire season in the shadows of Onuachu, scored his team’s fourth goal in the 75th minute and, though his compatriot did not shake the opponent’s net, he got two assists for Genk’s other goals in the 49th and 64th minutes.
It also means Genk will feature in the third qualifying round of next season’s UEFA Champions League, as Thursday’s result keeps them second in the Belgian First Division A table heading into the final round of fixtures for the season.
Dessers, who recently hinted that he could leave Genk this summer, despite still having three years left on his contract, has now scored six goals and provided three assists in 32 appearances across all competitions this season.
On the other hand, Onuachu has scored 35 goals and provided four assists in 40 games and will hope for more when Genk take on Club Brugge in their last game of the campaign on Sunday.
Onuachu would then look up to Monday for another historic date in his fast-evolving career, as the former Young Stars of Lagos, FC Ebedei of Shagamu and FC Midtjylland of Denmark giant could be named player of the year in Belgium.
This is sequel to the presence of his name among three nominees named by the Pro League on Thursday, with Onuachu listed alongside Raphael Holzhauser of Germinal Beerschot and Noa Lang of Club Brugge.
They are the top three players that have received the most attention in recent months, with Holzhauser having already finished second in the highest goals scorers’ chart, with 16 goals and 16 assists at Beerschot, but Onuachu is the top net shaker, having hit the bull’s eye 33 times.
Also in Belgium on Thursday, Nigerian under-20 national team, Flying Eagles’ former attacker, Adewale Oladoye got his official debut for KAA Gent in a Jupiler Pro League play-off clash against Standard Liege.
Oladoye helped his side win the game 2-0, wih goals from Yonas Malede and Roman Yaremchuk in the seventh and 94th minutes, thereby edging them closer to the UEFA Conference League.
He got off Gent’s bench in the 90th minute and the defensive midfielder made an instant impression with his key interception leading to his side’s second goal of the match.
Oladoye, who made the best of his competitive debut, after he was an unused sub in the previous game, is replicating the form that made him a hit with Water FC of Abuja, from where he joined Gent along with Emeka Chinonso earlier this year.
