Following a disappointing Tuesday for two Super Eagles stars in Europe, it was another night of mixed fortunes on Wednesday for Nigerian stars in the UEFA Champions League.
Nigeria-eligible forward Chukwunonso Madueke was at his exciting best on Wednesday night as PSV taught an out-of-sorts Galatasaray side a harsh football lesson with a 5-1 thrashing at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.
Israeli forward Eran Zahavi claimed a brilliant hat-trick while Germany international Mario Gotze added a second-half brace.
Madueke supplied the assist to Zahavi’s second goal in the 35th minute of the encounter.
The England youth international continues to impress ahead of a possible big-money move to Germany this summer.
It wasn’t a night to cherish, though, for Galatasaray, with their Champions League dreams about to end even before it begins.
The Istanbul giants started Nigerian attacker Jesse Sekidika ahead of veteran forward Radamel Falcao and stayed in touch with their hosts in a first half that ended 2-1 following Kilinc’s 42nd-minute effort.
But coach Fatih Terim’s side showed little fight in the second half and will need a miracle in the return leg next week to advance past PSV.
Elsewhere, Nigerian midfielder Bonke Innocent helped Malmo secure a first-leg advantage in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds with a 2-1 victory over Finland’s HJK Helsinki.
A cagey tie inside the Eleda Stadion was well into first-half stoppage time when Innocent found Antonio-Mirko Colak with a lovely pass. The Croatian attacker dispatched it with aplomb for the game’s opening goal.
Roope Riski equalised for the visitors midway through the second half, but Anders Christiansen’s 75th-minute effort ensured Malmo would advance to the next round of the competition should they avoid a defeat in Finland next week.
