Racing Genk of Belgium striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu has refuted insinuations that he is feeling downcast because he was unable to equal the 30-goal record of the highest goals scorer ever in the Jupiler League set years back by Wesley Sonck, megasportsarena.com reports.
Netting a brace in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Royal Antwerp saw Onuachu take his tally for the just concluded season to 29 goals in the league and 33 across all competitions for club and country in 2020/21, but he fell one short of Sonck’s record.
It was so near, yet so far for the FC Midtjylland of Denmark giant, who hit the net twice in Beker van Belgie Stadium, as he continued in his rich vein of form, having netted in each of his last five games combined for Genk and the Super Eagles.
The 26-year-old product of Young Stars of Lagos and FC Ebedie of Shagamu was in the right place at the right time to slot home in the 22nd minute and the tall lad doubled the advantage when he converted a spot kick in the 64th minute.
However, it ended in disappointment for Onuachu, who has not missed a penalty this season but converted eight in seven matches of the Belgian First Division A, as goals by Didier Lamkel Zé, Dieumerci Mbokani and Dylan Batubinsika condemned Genk to defeat.
The Eagles’ rae of the moment will now hope to win his first silverware with Genk when they face Standard Liege in the Belgian Cup final on Sunday, ahead of which he denied feeling any pain over his inability to surpass the league’s goals record set by Sonck.
Onuchu told Het Belang Van Limburg: “I was not doing that at all. I played for the team and tried to use my qualities for them. By getting two goals that worked well.
“Unfortunately it was not enough for a win and second place. I did not think about that yellow card. I had some problems with my knee and I was replaced as a precaution.”
