Austin Amutu, Philip Azango, and Yusuf Bamidele all found the back of the net, but their teams couldn’t capitalise, suffering painful defeats in high-intensity matches.
The night started with hope but ended in heartbreak for the three Nigerian stars in different leagues across Europe and Asia.
Here’s how it all unfolded.
Austin Amutu scores, but Al Talaba falters at home
In the Iraq Stars League, Austin Amutu delivered a crucial equaliser for Al Talaba, but his efforts weren’t enough as they fell 2-1 to Al Zawraa at the Al-Madina International Stadium.
The visitors struck early, with Aziz Chtioui finding the net in the 11th minute. Amutu responded swiftly, scoring just 12 minutes later to bring Al Talaba level.
However, the game took a dramatic turn when Amutu conceded a penalty, allowing Hasan Abdulkareem to restore Al Zawraa’s lead in the 57th minute.
Things went from bad to worse for Al Talaba when Humam Tariq received a straight red card just five minutes later, reducing them to ten men.
Despite the loss, Amutu’s goal marked his third of the season in nine matches.
Al Talaba remains in fifth place with 40 points and will look to bounce back in their next fixture against Al Hedood on Thursday.
Yusuf Bamidele shines in eight-goal thriller as Vojvodina falls
Over in Serbia, Yusuf Bamidele found himself in the middle of an electrifying eight-goal showdown in the Serbian Super Liga.
Despite his best efforts, his team, Vojvodina, suffered a 5-3 defeat to FK Crvena Zvezda at the Karađorđe Stadium.
Bamidele scored his team’s third goal in the 77th minute, but his side squandered a two-goal lead, allowing Crvena Zvezda to complete a remarkable comeback.
The visitors clawed their way back with a hat-trick from Aleksandar Katai and a late strike from Cherif Ndiaye.
To make matters worse, Vojvodina played with ten men for most of the second half after Đorđe Crnomarković was sent off in the 57th minute.
This loss marks Vojvodina’s fourth defeat in six matches, leaving them in sixth place with 39 points.
They now shift their focus to their upcoming match against Radnicki Nis.
Philip Azango’s goal not enough for Spartak Trnava
In Slovakia, Philip Azango also found the net, but Spartak Trnava’s defensive struggles cost them dearly in a 4-2 loss to MŠK Žilina in the Slovak Super Liga Playoff Group A.
Žilina took control early, scoring twice in the first 30 minutes through David Ďuriš and Timotej Jambor.
Azango reignited Spartak Trnava’s hopes with a goal in the 34th minute, followed by an equaliser from Kelvin Ofori just before halftime.
However, the home team’s defence crumbled again in the second half, conceding two more goals in quick succession from Ďuriš and Ridwan Sanusi.
Azango, who has now scored eight goals in 27 matches this season, was substituted in the 60th minute, unable to prevent his team’s defeat.
He was also voted the player of the match for his brilliance.
Spartak Trnava will aim to regroup before their next challenge.
For Austin Amutu, Philip Azango, and Yusuf Bamidele, it was a night of mixed emotions—goals to celebrate but defeats to endure.
While their individual performances stood out, their teams will need to regroup quickly to stay competitive in their respective leagues.
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