Europa/Conference League: Awoniyi On Target As Onuachu, Anjorin Lose

Taiwo Awoniyi was on target for Union Berlin in their 3-0 home win against Israel’s Maccabi Haifa, in their second Group E game of the Europa Conference League, Completesports.com reports.

It was a return to scoring form for Awoniyi who prior to Thursday’s game, had failed to find the net in his last four games. The last time he scored was on August 29.

After starting from the bench, Awoniyi came on in the 72nd minute and got Union Berlin’s third goal on 76 minutes.

The Nigerian striker has now scored three goals in the Europa Conference League so far and has taken his tally in all competitions to six this season.

The win against Maccabi Haifa is Union Berlin’s first win after two games and place them third on three points in the group.

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Also in Group E, Cyriel Dessers came on in the 64th minute and helped Feyenoord beat Slavia Prague 2-1.

Ubong Ekpai was in action for Slavia Prague before going off on 46 minutes while his compatriot Peter Olayinka was benched.

Feyenoord lead the group on four points with Slavia Prague in second place on three points.

In other Europa Conference League fixtures involving Nigerian players, Shehu Abdullahi featured while Francis Uzoho and Iyayi Atiemwem were benched in Omonia Nicoasia’s 4-1 home loss to Qarabag.

And in the Europa League, Paul Onuachu could not replicate his recent scoring form as Genk lost 3-0 at home to Dinamo Zagreb in Group H.

Onuachu was later replaced by Ike Ugbo in the 76th minute.

Following the defeat, Genk are now third on three points after winning their opening game away to Rapid Wien thanks to Onuachu’s late winner.

In Group E, England-born Nigerian midfielder Faustino Anjorin, played for Lokomotiv Moscow in their 2-0 loss at Lazio.

Anjorin, on loan to Lokomotiv Moscow from Chelsea, was replaced with eight minutes remaining in the game.

Lokomotiv Moscow are rooted bottom in the group with just one point after two games, with Galatasaray (4 points), Lazio  (3 points) and Marseille (2 points) are first, second and third respectively.

And in Portugal, Raphael Onyedika played but ended on the losing side as 10-man Midtjylland were beaten 3-1by Sporting Braga in Group F.

Onyedika was pulled out of the game with 20 minutes left to play.

Midtjylland are in fourth spot with just one point after two games in the group.

By James Agberebi