Babajide Akintola delivered a man-of-the-match performance, orchestrating two brilliant assists to help Çaykur Rizespor secure a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory in their Turkish Super Lig clash at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium.
Matchday 12 was a thriller, as Rizespor extended their winning streak to two games after a 3-1 triumph over Trabzonspor in their previous outing, Footballrover reports.
Akintola was the undisputed star of the game with his playmaking magic, as his compatriot Ibrahim Olawoyin also put in a good display in what was an impressive team effort.
The hosts, Eyüpspor, took the lead in the 27th minute courtesy of Ahmed Kutucu’s clinical strike, leaving Rizespor trailing at halftime. However, Akintola delivered when it mattered the most.
Babajide Akintola’s playmaking magic steals the show
Just 10 minutes into the second half, the Nigerian forward displayed his vision and composure, setting up Dal Varesanovic to bring the visitors level.
Not content with just one assist, Akintola produced another moment of magic 20 minutes later, threading a precise pass to Gambian forward Ali Sowe, who slotted home the match-winning goal.
Ibrahim Olawoyin
Akintola’s impact was so significant that, even after he was substituted in the 88th minute for Emrecan Bulut, his brilliance continued to define the game.
The drama peaked when Amir Hadziahmetovic received a straight red card in the dying minutes of added time, leaving Rizespor down to ten men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage and 12 additional minutes of play, the visitors held on for the crucial victory.
With this win, Rizespor climbed to 9th place on the Turkish Super Lig table, amassing 16 points.
Akintola’s playmaking was crucial in securing their fourth win in five games as they continue to push for a stronger league position.
Next up for Çaykur Rizespor is a December 1 showdown against Kayserispor, where Akintola and his teammates will look to maintain their impressive form.
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