Racing Genk of Belgium striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu on Friday night opened this weekend’s goal scoring account by Nigerian players in Europe, as he fired home his 24th goal of the season, a day before former Club Brugge of Belgium striker, Arnaut Groeneveld Danjuma scored in the English Premier League.
To set the count rolling, Onuachu helped Genk end a losing run of three games, as they won away to Victor Osimhen’s former club, Sporting Charleroi, during which Onuachu, who scored just nine goals last season, made up for an early miss when he tucked away a penalty after 17 minutes of action.
Megasportsaena.com reports that Onuachu, who was replaced in the 80th minute by fellow Super Eagles striker, Cyriel Dessers, got more accolades, as Genk went on to win 2-1 and remain third on the table with 46 points from 29 matches.
In England, Danjuma got one of the goals that gave Bournemouth victory over William Troost-Ekong’s side Watford, as both sides fought out a crucial promotion chasing fixture in the English Championship.
Danjuma’s 61st minute effort set Bournemouth back on course for a Championship play-off spot, with a 1-0 victory over Troost-Ekong’s promotion-chasing side in an ill-tempered game at Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After two defeats in a week saw The Cherries drop out of the top six, Danjuma’s low effort crept past Daniel Bachmann at the near post and handed Jonathan Woodgate his first victory since his position as head coach was confirmed until the end of the season.
It ended a frustrating day for Watford who remain outside of the automatic spots as their four-game winning run came to a halt after struggling to break down a dogged Cherries backline, as the side that also featured Dominic Solanke in attack were disciplined off the ball and created the best two openings.
Unfortunately, Junior Stanislas lost his footing as he looked to shoot after being played through by Solanke, while Lloyd Kelly’s fierce strike from the corner of the box was pushed over the bar by Daniel Bachmann.
The busy Danjuma looked the most likely to create a goal out of nothing and he came alive after the break, as a jinking run saw him beat two men and Bachmann with a low shot, only for Francisco Sierralta to clear the goal bound effort behind.
That seemed to spark the game into life. Danjuma was again frustrated as his low effort was well kept out by Bachmann after a neat ball through and they nearly paid the price for that miss immediately.
Tom Cleverley tried to finish Watford’s quick counterattack with a low finish into the bottom corner but Begovic’s strong left hand denied The Hornets’ skipper, but Danjuma was not to be kept out for long though and his strike came following a moment of controversy that turned the temperature up in the February sunshine.
A match report by Sky Sports read afterwards: “Arnaut Danjuma was the difference for Bournemouth and he always looked the most likely to break the deadlock on the south coast. He had already seen one goal bound effort cleared by Francisco Sierralta.
“And another saved by Daniel Bachmann before he beat the keeper at the front post with a low strike. It was the perfect way to react after being dropped from the side by Woodgate and Danjuma will know he has the ability to ensure the Cherries finish in the top six.”
In Scotland, Joe Aribo has been named the Scottish Premier League Team of the Week, after putting in yet another scintillating performance last weekend, during which he netted a goal and provided an assist in Rangers’ 4-1 win over Dundee United.
The 24-year-old produced a man of the match performance to help Rangers continue their surge in the Scottish Premiership and The Gers have now gone 30 league games without a single loss so far this season.
The former Charlton Athletic of England dazzler provided the assist for the first goal before he then scored a potential goal of the month with a fierce shot from the edge of the box as Rangers open an incredible 18 points gap ahead of second-place Celtic.
Aribo, who has six goals and four assists after 23 games, a huge improvement from only three he scored in the 2019/2020 season, is the only Rangers player in the team, while les fancied trio of Ross County, Hibernian and St. Johnston produced two each in the best XI.
The SPFL’s citation for Aribo read in part: “A top-class performance from the midfielder was the inspiration behind Rangers’ 4-1 victory over Dundee United on Sunday as Steven Gerrard’s men moved closer to the title. The Nigerian international not only dazzled with his play on the ball, but he also scored an excellent goal and is this week’s star man.”
