Euro Roundup: Dessers Powers Genk Win; Ejuke Impresses In Huge CSKA Victory

On a Monday night of football, a few Nigerian players featured for their clubs across various leagues in Europe.

New Super Eagles star Cyriel Dessers came off the bench to provide the assist to the winning goal as Genk secured a 2-1 win at Gent.

In-form Nigeria international Paul Onuachu, who has scored eight goals in eight games this term, started for the visitors. Still, it was Castro-Montes who put the home side in front midway through the first half at the GHELAMCO-arena (Gent).

Theo Bongonda, however, levelled proceedings for Genk five minutes before the break.

With the match slipping towards a draw, Dessers, a 78th-minute replacement for his compatriot, supplied the final pass for Patrik Hrošovský to bury an 84th-minute winner.

Genk, now undefeated in any of their last five league matches, rise to eight on the Belgian First Division A table with 16 points.

In Russia, Young Nigerian forward Chidera Ejuke earned his fourth start since moving to CSKA Moscow in the summer and impressed as the Moscovites handed Arsenal Tula a 5-1 thrashing at the VEB Arena.

The 22-year-old former Heerenveen star already has two goals in seven games for CSKA.

But Chalov, Vlasic (double), Sigurdsson, and Oblyakov were the goalscorers Monday as Vladimir Ivic’s men moved up to second on the Russian Premier League table, two points behind Victor Moses’ Spartak Moscow.

Defender Semi Ajayi returned to the West Brom starting lineup to partner former Chelsea star Branislav Ivanovic at the heart of the Baggies’ defence in the club’s 1-1 draw away to Brighton and Hive Albion.

Coach Slaven Bilic had left the Nigerian centre-back on the bench on matchday five in the stalemate at home to Burnley.

But Ajayi, 26, delivered a solid performance even as West Brom continued to search for their first Premier League win since joining the big boys this term.

Karlan Ahearne-Grant’s 83rd-minute strike for the visiting Baggies helped cancel out Jake Livermore’s 40th-minute own-goal.