Super Eagles First Choice Goalie Uzoho Posts Shutout On League Debut For Elche

Published: October 20, 2018

Nigeria international Francis Uzoho finally made his league debut for Elche as they recorded a 2-0 win over Malaga on game week ten in the Segunda División on Friday evening.

The Deportivo de La Coruña loanee was preferred in goal ahead of the experienced José Juan, who had started Elche's first nine games in the league this term.

On 36 minutes, Colombian defender Neider Lozano was left unmarked in the box and duly scored with a powerful header to give Elche the lead.

Uzoho made at least three saves to keep the Malaga strikers at bay during the match at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero and the best was his remarkable reflex save to deny a point-blank Blanco Leschuk chance in the 61st minute.

And that save proved decisive as Borja Martínez doubled Elche's advantage after a spectacular free kick in the 63rd minute.

Uzoho, who celebrates his 20th birthday next Sunday, made his official debut for Elche in a 2-1 win against Granada in the Copa del Rey on September 13 and was an unused substitute in four games in the second-tier prior to the clash against Malaga.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel