It was different strokes for various Nigerian players in the UEF Europa League, as Victor Osimhen was hit with his first career red card and had a goal disallowed in action with Napoli of Italy, while Olarewaju Kayode hit home a goal for Sivaspor of Turkey.
Megasportsarena.com can also report that Samuel Chukwueze helped Villarreal of Spain make it two wins from two in Group I of the Europa League after coming from behind to register a 3-1 win against Qarabag FK at the Tofiq Bakhramov Stadium.
There were no goals to report until the 78th minute when Owusu Kwabena broke the deadlock for the home team but their lead lasted less than two minutes as substitute Yeremi Pino restored parity and, Making his eleventh appearance in the competition, Chukwueze provided an assist for The Yellow Submarine.
On 84 minutes, Alcácer slotted in from close range to make it 2-1 after Chukwueze did the legwork and passed for the substitute and the number 17 got his second of the evening when he scored from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Chukwueze subbed out with six minutes remaining after an impressive shift, while Sivasspor have a mountain to climb to progress to the knockout round after they were beaten 2-1 by Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Yeni Sivas 4 Eylül Stadyumu (Sivas).
Kayode entered the history books by scoring Sivasspor’s first-ever home goal in a European competition in the 55th minute, but two goals in a couple of minutes from Bitton and Peretz sealed a win for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles striker Kayode was replaced at minute 75, while Osimhen was shown a red card for the first time in his four-year professional career as the Italian Serie A side returned to winning ways in the UEFA Europa League, beating Real Sociediad 1-0 at Estadio de Anoeta – San Sebastian on Thursday night.
The Nigeria international joined the fray in the 61st minute and was penalised for a foul on Real Sociedad winger Ander Barrenetxea with nine minutes left on the clock, and had a goal ruled out in the 86th minute, as Napoli claimed a valuable three points thanks to a deflected strike from Politano ten minutes into the second half..
Osimhen had the ball in the net from a well-worked set piece but the goal was ruled out by English referee Craig Pawson, after which the former Lille of France ace got his marching orders to leave the pitch for a second yellow card in the second minute of stoppage time after a foul on Le Normand.
Osimhen was expelled for the very first time in his 96th game as a professional comprising 16 for Wolfsburg, 36 in the colours of RSC Charleroi, 38 for Lille and six in a Napoli shirt, and the 21-year-old is set to miss Napoli’s next European game against Rijeka in six days time.
