Super Eagles’ Paul Onuachu Begins New Year In Spectacular Style

The former FC Midtjylland ace was one of Nigeria’s most prolific strikers in 2020, and he has started 2021 where he left off last year

Smoking-hot striker Paul Onuachu got his first-ever hattrick in Genk’s colours to help the Belgian giants humiliate Eupen in a First Division A clash in midweek.

Super striker Paul Onuachu was at his fantastic best at the Kehrwegstadion, where Genk thrashed homers AS Eupen 4-1 courtesy of three goals from the Nigeria international.

Onuachu found the back of the net once in the first half and twice after the break to lead title hopefuls Genk to an excellent win over Eupen on Wednesday night.

Junya Ito and Stef Peeters traded finishes in the opening quarter of an hour to set the game finely balanced before the Paul Onuachu show began in the 42nd minute.

The Super Eagles striker put the visitors back in front with a poacher’s finish three minutes before the interval.

He then extended their advantage through two well-taken penalties: the first, three minutes into the second half and the second, on the hour mark.

Genk boss John van den Brom replaced Onuachu with compatriot Cyriel Dessers nine minutes after completing his hattrick. 

Before kickoff, Onuachu had registered 15 goals in 17 matches this season, the last of which arrived in the final game of 2020 in the 1-1 draw at home to Waasland-Beveren, two days after Christmas.

And the 26-year-old gangling striker has shown no sign of slowing down with three goals in his first match in the new year.

Onuachu now boasts ten goals in his last nine matches for Genk, and his 18 league strikes see him equal his personal best in a season.

The 201cm tall forward enjoyed his most prolific campaign to date during the 2017-2018 season when he netted 18 times in 36 league matches for Danish side FC Midtjylland. 

Despite the latest victory, Genk remain second on the Belgian top division table, trailing league leaders Club Brugge by a point after 19 matchdays.