Victor Osimhen’s 32nd Serie A goal for Napoli on Saturday has seen him emerge as Nigeria’s most prolific goalscorer in the Italian championship ever, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigeria international who joined Napoli from Lille just over two years ago for an African record transfer fee recorded the landmark feat in the first half of Napoli’s 2-1 win over Atalanta in Bergamo.
His compatriot, Ademola Lookman had shot the hosts into the lead from the penalty spot in the 19th minute after Osimhen handled the ball in the box, but he turned it around with a goal rising higher than La Dea’s defence line to head home the equaliser four minutes later.
Osimhen broke away from Merih Demiral down the right and pulled it back for Eljif Elmas to take a touch and score from 10 yards in the 35th minute as Napoli fought back to win the top of the table showdown and go eight points clear.
Before the match against Atalanta, Osimhen was tied on the same number of goals (31) as fellow countryman Simy Nwankwo.
But with his goal on Saturday, the 23-year-old has surpassed the former Crotone hero.
Former Inter Milan striker, Obafemi Martins, scored 28 goals while Stephen Makinwa and Victor Nsofor bagged 16 and 14 goals respectively for Atalanta and Chievo Verona.
At the Stadio Arechi stadium in Italy, David Okereke scored his third league goal of the season for Cremonese who played out a 2-2 draw away at Salernitana.
Krzysztof Piatek opened the scoring for the host in the third minute – pouncing on a deflected Antonio Candreva cross for the fastest ever Serie A goal scored by Salernitana after two minutes and 30 seconds, but Okereke thumped in a wonderful volley from a Frank Tsadjout knockdown.
Lassana Coulibaly drilled in from a tight angle, but Cremonese got a penalty for Federico Fazio’s late lunge. Sepe saved the Daniel Ciofani effort with his foot off the line, so it was retaken and another save still couldn’t prevent the equaliser.
In the English Premier League, three Super Eagles stars were involved in the Nottingham Forest vs Brentford game.
Emmanuel Dennis made an assist – his third goal contribution of the season for Nottingham Forest who held Brentford to a 2-2 draw.
Nigeria international Dennis was involved from the start and needed only 20 minutes to grab an assist which takes his season tally to two assists and one goal.
Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka came on for Brentford after the half-time break, replacing Vitaly Janelt while Taiwo Awoniyi replaced his compatriot Emmanuel Dennis in the 79th minute.
Dennis also made two key passes before being substituted in the 79th minute while Onyeka recovered three balls of the four duels he contested as well as making two clearances and two tackles in the encounter.
Awoniyi could manage only one shot off target from a big chance as he had only three touches of the ball in the 11 minutes plus the added time he spent on the pitch.
In the English Championship, Chuba Akpom’s second-half equaliser earned a point for Middlesbrough in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City in Michael Carrick’s first home game in charge at the Riverside Stadium.
Bristol City had taken the lead after 10 minutes when Andreas Weimann tapped-in a low cross from Tommy Conway.
Akpom equalised for Boro shortly after half-time, sweeping the ball under Max O’Leary after good work from Riley McGree.
The result sees Middlesbrough drop one place to 20th, with Bristol City falling to 16th in the Championship table.
