Crotone boost their promotion aspirations on Friday after Nigeria international Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo powered the Serie B side to a brilliant 3-1 win at Cittadella.
Junior Messias opened the scoring at the Stadio Pier Cesare Tombolato before Vladimir Golemic set up the Super Eagles star to blast home a great finish in the 37th minute to hand Crotone a 2-0 lead heading to the break.
Messias added the visitors’ third goal of the night shortly after the restart before Giuseppe Panico grabbed a consolation goal for the home side.
Nwankwo, who smashed his first professional hat trick past run-away leaders Benevento only a few days ago, now has his eyes set on the division’s highest goal scorer award.
Only Perugia’s Pietro Iemmello, on 18 league goals, has found the back of the net more times than the Nigerian forward this campaign.
Nwankwo’s 17 strikes have him share the second spot with Trapani’s Stefano Pettinari, with Juve Stabia’s Francesco Forte a further two goals behind.
The 28-year-old forward has also contributed three assists in his 32 league appearances this term to help in Crotone’s push towards a return to the Serie A.
At least three more wins from their five remaining matches would see the Grecians join Benevento in the promotion party to the Italian top flight.
Nwankwo joined Crotone in July 2016 from Portimonense for €850,000 and has since netted 47 goals and created nine assists in 115 games for the Red and Blue.