Penalty-Box Predator Odion Ighalo Does It Again, Takes Tally To 6 Goals In 2 Games

Former Watford striker Odion Ighalo is firing on all cylinders six weeks before the start of the 2018 World Cup after netting a brace in Changchun Yatai's 2-1 win against Shanghai SIPG FC on Sunday afternoon local time.

The Nigeria international bagged four goals in his team's 5-2 rout of Guizhou Zhicheng in the Chinese Super League last weekend, with all the goals scored from inside the box.

In the 14th minute, Ighalo beat the offside trap to sprint onto a through ball before firing past goalkeeper Yan Junling inside the 18-yard box but Wu Lei restored parity for the visitors four minutes before half-time.

On 69 minutes, the Nigerian attacker received a pass from Marinho from just outside the box, made two touches that took him to the penalty area before firing an stoppable shot with his right foot to give Changchun Yatai a 2-1 lead.

Following their third win of the new season, Changchun Yatai occupy the seventh position in the provisional standings with 11 points from eight games.

Ighalo has scored seven goals in eight games in the league, more than Argentina international striker Ezequiel Lavezzi (Hebei CFFC) who has six goals to his name.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel