UCL: Osimhen's backheel goal against Sporting de Braga helps Napoli book spot in round of 16
Published: December 13, 2023Newly-crowned African football king Victor Osimhen, has opened his Champions League account for the season in Napoli's 2-0 win over Sporting de Braga with his thirty-third minute strike at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
In the keenly contested fixture, Braga gave away an own goal courtesy of Giovanni Di Lorenzo's low cross from Matteo Politano's throw in which was deflected by Serdar Saatçı on to the crossbar and over the line in the ninth minute of play.
A beautiful one-two play between Natan andKhvicha Kvaratskhelia gave the Georgian international huge pockets of space to beat Braga defenders Fonte and Saatçı before squaring for Victor Osimhen, who backheeled against his standing foot, with the ball flicked beyond the Braga goalkeeper and sneaking in.
After the interval, Osimhen terrorized Braga's defence with a fifty-fifth minute shooting chance which strayed high above the crossbar as well as setting up teammate André-Frank Zambo Anguissa who failed to beat the goalkeeper from close range, forcing a brilliant save.
The Nigeria international was substituted for Giacomo Raspadori in the sixty-ninth minute due to travel exhaustion, having flown to Morocco and back to receive the CAF Player of the Year award on Monday night.
Osimhen's goal against Sporting de Braga on Tuesday night was his first goal since returning from injury last month.
The 24-year-old is expected to be available for selection for Nigeria ahead of next year's Africa Cup of Nations slated to begin on January 13 in Ivory Coast.
Real Madrid finished first in Group C of the Champions League with a hundred percent record from their six games, followed by Napoli who garnered ten points while Braga have been demoted to the Europa League by virtue of finishing third.
Ejim Kaycee
Photo Credit: uefa.com
Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
- UEL: Lookman scores and assists as Atalanta make history; Bayer's Tella and Boniface watch history unfold
- Manchester United coach promotes 18yo Nigerian defender to first team training pre-Arsenal
- 'It's a path to follow' - Transfer guru Marchetti on Chelsea -owned striker Lukaku replacing Osimhen
- 'You can't find another Osimhen' - Ex-Italy international on Napoli replacing their star striker
- Arsenal in talks with Nigerian agent over new deal for history-making teenage striker
- Ex-Nigeria defender backs Finidi despite his preferred candidate Amuneke snubbed for Super Eagles job
- Ola Aina gets vote of confidence from Super Eagles legend amid Nottingham Forest's battle
- Chippa United slap N2.3b price tag on Nwabali amid links with QPR, Union SG, Kaizer Chiefs
- Onuachu joins Super Eagles walking wounded ahead of WCQs; Trabzonspor coach plays down injury
- 'I don't think he's the right fit' - Transfer reporter reveals Zirkzee is more likely to join Arsenal than Osimhen
- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football