OLAKUNLE OLUSEGUN’S RECORD BREAKING STRIKE
Super Eagles hopeful Olakunle Olusegun entered the Russian Premier League record books after scoring in Krasnodar’s 3-2 loss to FC Rostov at the Rostov Arena on Sunday evening, the fastest goal in the Russian top flight history.
The 20-year-old former Golden Eaglet forward put Krasnodar ahead after just 8.9 seconds with a brilliant right-footed strike from outside the box.
He breaks the record set by former Russian star Alexey Bychkov, who scored after nine seconds in the match against Rotor in August 1994 and also pushes former Super Eagles star Emmanuel Emenike down to third on the list. Emenike had scored the second-fastest goal in the Russian top flight after scoring just ten seconds into Spartak Moscow’s 2-1 win against Alania in 2012.
EMMANUEL DENNIS OFF THE MARK
Super Eagles forward Emmanuel Dennis scored his first goal for Nottingham Forest in their 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa on Monday night at the City Ground. Starting ahead of compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi this time, It took Dennis 17 mins to open the scoring. Dennis leaped highest to meet a cross from Morgan Gibbs-White, and he sent a powerful header past Emiliano Martinez to open the scoring. Dennis was taken off for Surridge in the 70th minute, but Taiwo Awoniyi was left on the bench.
DERBY DELIGHT FOR TEREM MOFFI
Super Eagles forward Terem Moffi scored twice against Brest on Sunday to equal Neymar and Mbappe’s tally for the season. His brilliant start to the season in the French top flight continues as his brace against Brest in the Brittany Derby was enough to secure all three points for Lorient. Moffi’s 8 goals (a goal every 101 mins and also the third best rate in the league behind PSG’s Neymar & Mbappe) have seen him match his last season total in just 10 games this season. His red hot form is powering Lorient to an unpredictable title push as they currently sit second on the log with 25 points, just a point behind league leaders PSG.
CYRIEL DESSERS FIRST GOAL FOR CREMONESE
Cyriel Dessers scored his maiden Serie A goal in Cremonese’s 4-1 loss against Napoli on Sunday evening. This is the striker’s first goal for the newly promoted side since moving from Genk at the beginning of the 2022-23 season. Dessers ending his wait for a goal will help boost his confidence with Cremonese having a huge task in their hands as they try to secure their top flight status for next season. Born in Belgium to a Belgian father and a Nigerian mother, Dessers chose to represent Nigeria at international level in 2019 and would be hoping to find the net again when Cremonese face Spezia in their next league outing.
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN FINE START CONTINUES
Ademola Lookman opened the scoring for Atalanta in their trip away to Udinese. It took them 36 minutes to break the deadlock. Luis Muriel played Lookman through on goal, and the Super Eagles forward showed great technique and smashed the ball into the roof of the net to give his side the lead. Lookman’s goal against Udinese was his second league goal in a row after he scored the lone goal in Atalanta’s 1-0 win over Fiorentina on October 2. This is Lookman’s third goal for Atalanta in nine matches so far but he was left perplexed on Sunday after being bizarrely yellow carded after his latest goal for using his trademark glasses celebration after scoring.
While there are allegations that Lookman’s goal celebration was targeted at the Udinese fans, Gasperini disputed this and stated that the celebration was simply misinterpreted. “It was misinterpreted, he is not a lad who tries to stir up trouble,” Gasperini told DAZN as reported by Football Italia.
ALEX IWOBI SCORES A STUNNER FOR EVERTON
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi scored first Premier League goal for Everton this season in their 2-1 home defeat against Manchester United at Goodison Park on Sunday. Iwobi had his uncle and Bolton Wanderers legend Austin Jay Jay Okocha watching from the stands as his goal of the month contender gave Everton the lead in the 5th minute. The former Arsenal man has been superb under manager Frank Lampard, but his early goal could not save the Toffees from losing at home.
KENNETH OMERUO’S GOAL SPARKED LEGANES COMEBACK
Defender Kenneth Omeruo scored a fine goal for his side Leganes in an away 2-1 win over Cartagena to end their recent winless run of three games in which they lost two and drew one. Omeruo was in action for Leganes for 82 minutes and scored his side’s first goal of the game as they secured a comeback win.
CHIDOZIE AWAZIEM’S KNACK FOR GOALSCORING
In the Croatian HNL, Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem scored the winning goal for the second game running to power Hajduk Split to a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Varaždin at the Stadion Poljud. In the final moments of the game, Awaziem scored in the ninth minute of added time to deliver three points in a hard-fought victory. The defender said he and his teammates were lifted by the massive support from the home fans throughout the match. After only eight league appearances in Croatia, the former Porto defender is now Hajduk’s highest-scoring defender with 3 league goals.
TYRONNE EBUEHI MAKES A RARE APPEARANCE
Tyronne Ebuehi recorded an assist in Empoli’s 1-1 stalemate against Torino at the Stade Olimpico Grande on Sunday. The 26-year-old who was making his second Serie A appearances this term set up Mattia Destro for Empoli’s goal on 49 minutes and was replaced 12 minutes from time.
CALVIN BASSEY OFF THE MARK
In the Netherlands, Calvin Bassey was among the goal scorers as Ajax secured an expected win away at FC Volendam. The goal is Bassey’s first for Ajax since swapping the Scottish Premiership for the Eredivisie in the summer. The win comes days after Ajax suffered a humiliating 6-1 home defeat to Napoli in the Champions League. Bassey will be hoping Ajax get the chance to redeem their reputation when they play Napoli at the Diego Maradona Stadium in the reverse fixture on Wednesday.
PAUL ONUACHU IS BACK WITH THE GOALS
In Belgium, Onuachu netted both of Genk’s goals to lead KRC Genk to a slim 2-1 win over Kortrijk at the Cegeka Arena. He scored his second goal from the penalty spot in the 79th minute to guide the Smurfs to their ninth win in 11 league games. With minor injuries and transfer setback hindering his start to the season, it took Paul Onuachu 7 matchdays to net his first goal of the season against KV Oostende. Known for his prolific goalscoring in Belgium, he has now followed that up with a brace against KV Kortrijk this past weekend taking his goals tally to 3 this season.
