The Nigeria international scored his seventh goal of the season for the Ligue 1 side, but it was not enough as their lower-tier hosts emerged 3-2 extra-time winners on Thursday night in the Coupe de France.
With the loss, Les Girondins’ bad run of form continued as Paolo Sousa’s men have now only won one of their last 7 matches, but Super Eagles star Josh Maja’s profile was enhanced after yet another eye-catching display at the Stage of Hamlet.
Bordeaux had to come from behind twice at the home of the National 1 side, but it was all for nothing as a 117th-minute Mamadou Gueye strike won an enthralling contest for the hosts.
Moustapha Name broke the deadlock midway into the first half for Pau, but Josh Maja popped up with the equalizer five minutes before the interval. However, the hosts regained the lead moments later through Yankuba Jarju to head into the break with the advantage.
With time running out on the visitors, substitute Nicolas de Roussel de Préville popped up with an 82nd-minute equalizer to drag the encounter into extra time.
But Gueye’s strike deep into extra time secured a famous 3-2 win for Pau and broke Bordeaux’s hearts. However, Maja enhanced his reputation despite the loss.
The former Sunderland starlet is believed to be attracting interests from Chelsea with Blues manager Frank Lampard in search of a backup striker for star man Tammy Abraham.
With French international Olivier Giroud reportedly close to a switch to Inter Milan, and Maja staying effective in front of goal, a move to London may be on the cards soon.
Elsewhere, Anthony Nwakaeme and John Mikel Obi delivered impressive performances as Trabzonspor defeated Denizlispor 2-0 to move to the next round of the Turkish Cup.
Jose Sosa handed the hosts a first-half lead before Nwakaeme netted the clincher late in the second half. The visitors didn’t travel with new signing Ogenyi Onazi, who recently joined from Trabzonspor.