By Adeboye Amosu
Nigeria forward, Steven Odey, bagged the winning goal in FC Zurich 3-2 home win against German club, Bayern Leverkusen in their Europa League clash on Thursday night, reports Completesportsnigeria. com.
Antonio Marchesano put the home team ahead a minute before half time but Karim Bellarabi equalised for the visitors four minutes after the break.
Bellarabi put Leverkusen ahead for the first time in the game in the 53rd minute but Toni Domgjoni levelled scores for the hosts six minutes later.
Odey netted the winner 12 minutes from time to send the home fans into wild jubilation. It was his ninth goal in all competitions for FC Zurich this season.
At the Estádio José Alvalade, Alex Iwobi played four minutes as Arsenal recorded 1-0 away win against Sporting Lisbon.
Iwobi came in for Gabonese forward, Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang in the game.
England forward, Danny Welbeck scored the decisive goal for the Gunners in the 77th minute.
Unai Emery’s men are now unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions.
Samuel Kalu was on for 90 minutes in his French club, Girondis Bordeaux 2-1 away loss to Russian outfit, Zenit St Petersburg.
Jimmy Briad gave Bordeaux the lead in the 26th minute, while Artem Dzyuba equalised for the hosts five minutes before the break.
Daler Kuzyaev scored the winning goal for Zenit five minutes from time.
Nigeria forward, Peter Olayinka was benched for the entire 90 minutes in Czech Republic side, Slavia Prague 1-0 away win FC Copenhagen of Denmark.
FULL RESULTS
Zürich 3 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen
AEK Larnaca 1 – 1 Ludogorets
Salzburg 3 – 0 Rosenborg
RB Leipzig 2 – 0 Celtic
Zenit 2 – 1 Bordeaux
København 0 – 1 Slavia Praha
Anderlecht 2 – 2 Fenerbahçe
Spartak Trnava 1 – 2 Dinamo Zagreb
Qarabağ 0 – 1 Vorskla
Sporting CP 0 – 1 Arsenal
Milan 1 – 2 Real Betis
F91 Dudelange 0 – 2 Olympiakos Piraeus
COMMENTS
My people, I watched the FC Zurich match tonight to keep tab on Stephen Odey and he proved to me tonight that (1) His goal-scoring feat that took him to Europe is no fluke.
2. The reason why he sealed the No.9 spot(lone striking role) in A big club like FC Zurich.
3. He is a Super Eagle material.
Since this season began have been following him closely and i noticed he is of much importance to the team cuz he starts/plays almost all there matches–Swiss Cup, Swiss league and Europa league. Meanwhile, he’s been rewarding the coach trust in him by scoring goals and also giving assists. Though we have Ighalo and Success as our main strikers at the moment, giving the likes of Odey, Oshimen call-up against Seychelles and other upcoming friendly matches so as to have plenty striking options before the Nations Cup
Yes, I agree. Odey is a fast rising star. It’s time he comes in to strengthen our striking force.
I’ve been touting Odey as a possible Super Eagles player for a while. And yes, I wouldn’t change personnel for The game against South Africa unless forced to by injuries and suspensions. But going forward, he could thrive in the Super Eagles if he is chosen as he plays as a lone striker for Zurich and is a regular starter and has been scoring regularly.
I agree that he should be given a chance to compete with Ighalo, Success and Iheanacho for that spot with friendlies and “dead rubber” games in preparation for AFCON next year.
I also think Osimhen should be in the under 20 squad next year and that the under 20 as well as the Under 23 formations shouls mirror that of the senior team so that the players are prepared to slot right into the senior squad when required.
Cont.
*wouldn’t be a bad idea
The dead rubber match against the Seychelles hoping we get a result against south Africa would afford us to see some newbies to freshen the team and bring competition for places.
Odey has impressed and potentially one to look forward to in the winter windows.A player who exceled for a modest mfm and was unarguably the best local striker at some point.Took his game to Europe and continued from where he stopped domestically.Young fast and skillful Odey is proven as a local player and now a foreign professional.His time would come soon to stake a claim in a team smoking with bundles of amazing talents.Whether he takes his chance well time will tell,but he has to first get the invite.
Wish odey all the best in his endeavours.
God bless Nigeria!