Sparta Praha striker
Victor Olatunji etched his identify within the historical past books by
changing into the primary Nigerian to attain within the 2024/2025 UEFA
Champions League season.
Olatunji, who was making his debut within the competitors, delivered
a standout efficiency, scoring as soon as and helping one other as
Sparta cruised to a 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg on the Generali
Enviornment.
Sparta, returning to Europe’s premier competitors for the primary
time in 19 years, made their intentions clear early on. The Czech
champions took the lead when Kaan Kairinen pounced on a rebound
after Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich made a save.
Olatunji involves the fore
Simply fourty minutes after Sparta’s opener, Olatunji doubled
their lead with a medical right-footed end. The Nigerian
ahead capitalized on a clearance from his teammate Filip Panák,
volleying the ball into the bottom-left nook from a decent
angle.
It was a aim that showcased his technical skill and poise
beneath strain, because the striker wasted no time in stamping his
authority on the match.
At halftime, Sparta Praha held a commanding 2-0 lead, and
Olatunji wasn’t achieved but.
13 minutes into the second half, the 25-year-old striker
turned supplier, driving into the field earlier than organising Qazim Laci,
who completed calmly to make it 3-0 and safe the win for the house
facet.
A record-breaking debut
Olatunji’s contributions have been sufficient to see him make historical past as
the third African participant to each rating and help on his UEFA
Champions League debut, following within the footsteps of Daniel Cousin
(2007 for Rangers) and Serge Aurier (2015 for PSG). Remarkably, he
additionally grew to become the primary
Nigerian to attain the feat.
In his 64 minutes on the pitch, Olatunji recorded one shot on
goal and one off, made 14 touches, and accomplished 60% of his
passes. He additionally gained 5 of his eight duels, underlining his
all-round influence on the sport earlier than being substituted.
