“It wasn’t easy”- Sadiq Umar relives weird Valencia goal

Super Eagles striker Umar Sadiq has admitted that his goal in Valencia's 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday was not an easy one, as he had to improvise within a short time to get it in, Soccernet.ng reports.

Sadiq turned up clutch for Valencia for the umpteenth time this season when they travelled to Estadio de Vallecas to play European football-chasing Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Nigerian striker Sadiq started from the bench, with Hugo Duro reclaiming his place in the starting eleven. The home side got the lead in the first half, courtesy of an own goal from Cesar Tarrega.

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However, Sadiq was introduced into the game in the 66th minute, and that changed the complexion of the game. The Super Eagles star scored the equalizer for Valencia within nine minutes of his introduction.

But it was quite a unique goal. Sadiq ran onto a low cross in the box and nudged it towards goal, but it hit the upright and bounced back at him. Sadiq, who was sitting on the floor after his effort, then controlled the ball with his head and nudged it past the scrambling goalkeeper and into the net.

⚽️6º gol de Umar “buen tipo” Sadiq con el Valencia.

Gol ‘Made In Sadiq’. No existe un gol que represente tanto el Sadiquismo.#RealSociedad

pic.twitter.com/QHmztKcvq5

— Pablo Barea (@pablobare) April 19, 2025

What Sadiq Umar said about his goal for Valencia

Sadiq Umar's goal was his fifth for Valencia, and he was asked about how he was able to compose himself to finish despite the pressure at the time.

“It was not easy because you can see how I ran into the first post, I touched the ball, it hit the goal and came back to me. It was supposed to go in at first, but it came back to me again. So it was not an easy goal,” Sadiq said.

Sadiq will miss Valencia's next game against Espanyol due to an accumulation of yellow cards. But he will look to bounce back better.