Crotone of Italy striker, Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo (Simy) and Galatasaray of Turkey winger, Henry Onyekuru both scored two goals apiece for their respective clubs, which are enjoying varying fortunes in the ongoing domestic leagues across Europe, megasportsarena.com reports.
While Onyekuru made hay with his brace in Turkey, it was in Italy where ‘Simy’ took his haul of goals for the season to 12 and became Nigeria’s highest goals ever in a single season of the Italian Serie A, as he knocked home twice against SS Lazio.
In scoring a brace for his relegation haunted side, the double effort from ‘Simy’ could not prevent Crotone from losing 3-2 to Lazio at Stadio Olimpico di Roma, but he made history among the array of Nigerian players that have featured over the years in the Italian top-flight.
The previous Nigerian goals record in Italy had been held by former Super Eagles’ speedster, Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins during his time with Inter Milan, for which he netted 11 goals in the 2004/05 season.
The new mark now belongs to Simy, who has scored in three consecutive matches, and his haul of 11 beauties takes him behind eight other players that have scored more than him this season in the Calcio, but he remains out of favour with Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr.
The latest mark from ‘Simy’ came after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put Lazio ahead on 14 minutes, following which Crotone responded when Lisandro Magallan provided he assist that helped Simy place his effort beyond the reach of former Liverpool goalkeeper, Pepe Reina in the 29th minute to level the score to 1-1.
However, Luis Alberto again put Lazio ahead again to make it 2-1, only for Simy to equalise for Crotone from the penalty spot, after Mohamed Fares tripped Junior Messias, but Felipe Caicedo got the winner for Lazio six minutes from time.
In Turkey, Onyekuru got off the off the bench to score twice within eight minutes and helped The Lions boost their title hopes with a crucial win on the road, as they got a 3-0 victory over Kayserispor in Saturday’s Turkish Super Lig encounter.
The 23-year-old Onyekuru, who has been impressive since his return on loan from AS Monaco of France to the Turk Telekom Stadium, was virtually on fire during the game in Kayseri, where he replaced Emre Akbaba and first made hay in the 68th minute.
The former KAS Eupen and RSC Anderlecht of Belgium player as well as ex-Everton of England signing then wrapped up a brace that boosted Gala’s hunt for the Super Lig title, as he doubled their lead in the 81st minute after Radamel Falcao opened scoring in the 44th minute.
A minute before the end of the encounter, Onyekuru got an assist from Sofiane Feghouli to take his tally to five goals after nine league appearances for Fatih Terim’s side, while Oghenekaro Etebo went on alongside him as an 82nd-minute substitute but their compatriot, Valentine Ozornwafor was an unused substitute.
Also in Turkey, Sivasspor striker, Olarewaju Kayode showed his displeasure at his coach when he was replaced by Arouna Kone in the 76th minute of a 1-0 win over Fatih Karagumruk, as the former youth international remonstrated by the sidelines and it needed the assistant gsffer to calm him down.
