Al-Shabab of Saudi Arabia striker, Odion Jude Ighalo, Tottenham Hotspur’s youngster, Kion Etete and Chelsea of England rookie, Faustino Anjorin both had something to celebrate at the start of the new month, as they all played key roles in victories for their respective clubs.
Megasportsaena.com reports that, while Anjorin and Etete both made hay in England’s Premier League 2, Ighalo notched a first half brace of goals that helped Al-Shabab defeat Damac 2-1 at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium on Monday afternoon.
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations highest goals scorer opened scoring with a powerful header in the 12th minute, after a brilliant cross into the box from left-back Abdullah Al Zoari, only for Emilio Zelaya to equalize with a header of his own.
However, six minutes before half-time, Ighalo, who has three goals and an assist in five matches since making his debut for Al-Shabab, scored the match winner after guiding yet another header home from a fine delivery by Fábio Martins.
The former Super Eagles’ top striker thought he had bagged his first hat-trick in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, when he struck again midway through the second half, but it was chalked off for offside, after which he made way for Nawaf Al Abid in the third minute of stoppage time.
In England, Anjorin was impressive in his first game of 2021 for Chelsea’s under-23 squad, but he could only help them get a 1-1 draw away to Leicester City, who featured 18-year-old Nigerian-born goalkeeper, Chituru Odunze, while The Blues had Bryan Fiabema on the pitch as well.
Anjorin was denied the opening goal when he struck a shot from close range in the 25th minute but the post came to Leicester’s rescue, while Odunze later on made a brilliant save to prevent Livramento from breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute.
However, despite Odunze covering his near post and punching the ball away for a corner, the breakthrough for Anjorin’s side came in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time when his close pal, McEachran knocked home the Nigerian-born attacker’s brilliant ball across the face of goal.
Anjorin thought he had won it for the visitors in the 95th minute but saw his shot from just inside the box tipped wide by Odunze, and Tyrese Shade then leveled scores in the 58th minute, after a defensive error by Chelsea.
Also in England, Tottenham Hotspur youngster, Kion Etete was ecstatic, after he helped his side extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League 2 to six matches with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home against Blackburn Rovers.
During the game at Hotspur Way, Etete gave Tottenham the lead when he prodded home from close range on the stroke of half-time, before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster was sent off in first-half stoppage time.
Tottenham also featured young goalkeeper, Joshua Oluwayemi and central defender, Tobi Omole, but it was Etete who came closest to scoring a winner for the north London team with 20 minutes remaining, only for Blackburn’s shot-stopper managing to block the tight angle effort.
Etete, who praised his Tottenham teammates for the point earned despite playing the entirety of the second half with ten men, took to social media to reveal his glee, as he posted: “Was a great battles from the lads to grab a point with 10 men🙌🏾.”
