Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika marked a major milestone by scoring his first-ever UEFA Champions League goal in Club Brugge’s clash against Manchester City.
Onyedika, defensive midfielder by trade was in the right place at the right time when Ferran Jutglà played a short pass into his path.
Onyedika wasted no time, firing a clinical shot into the bottom right corner of City’s net to give Brugge a shock lead, much to the delight of the visiting fans.
Onyedika celebrating his goal at Etihad stadium. ( Photo by imago)
However, the joy was short-lived as City came alive after halftime. Mateo Kovačić equalized with a stunning strike from the edge of the box, beating Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
Moments later, a defensive blunder saw a Club Brugge player deflect a shot into his own net, giving City the lead.
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Despite their best efforts to level the score, Brugge could not break through City’s defense. Savinho sealed the victory for City with a well-taken goal, capitalizing on a perfect cross from John Stones.
The 3-1 victory secured vital points for Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, easing their worries after a series of disappointing results across competitions.
While Brugge’s hopes of an upset were dashed, Onyedika’s performance remained a bright spot as the Belgian club progress to the play offs of the UEFA Champions League.
Onyedika has played a pivotal role for club Brugge since joining from Danish club FC Midtjylland in 2022, helping Brugge to the Belgian league title in the 2023/2024 season.
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The Super Eagles midfielder, who made his 14th UEFA Champions League appearance, will take pride in his goal as he prepares to carry this momentum into Nigeria’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.