In just his second English Football League game since returning to England, Kelechi Nwakali made an impact for Barnsley, providing a well-executed assist.

Photo by X

However, his assist wasn’t enough to prevent a crushing 3-1 home defeat against Doncaster in the EFL Trophy Northern Group F, Footballrover reports.

Despite the former Arsenal prospect’s display, Barnsley’s hopes of advancing in the competition were dashed, leaving fans at Oakwell disappointed.

The crowd watched with hope as Nwakali delivered a perfectly timed cross that led to Barnsley’s only goal.

But even with this assist, the Nigerian midfielder and his team couldn’t avoid a rough outcome, as Doncaster’s clinical performance put them out of reach.

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Joe Ironside opened the scoring for Doncaster just before halftime, catching Barnsley off guard.

When Harry Clifton doubled the visitors’ lead 28 minutes into the second half, it appeared the game was slipping away.

Then, in the 74th minute, Nwakali sent a precise cross from the left, finding Aiden Marsh, who headed it home to narrow the deficit to 2-1. For a brief moment, Barnsley’s comeback seemed within reach.

Nwakali’s assist not enough to avoid elimination

Yet, Barnsley’s hopes were dashed again as Doncaster’s Kyle Hurst struck in the 84th minute, sealing a 3-1 win and eliminating Barnsley from the competition.

Full time at Oakwell. pic.twitter.com/lhb2xeh4vv

— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) October 29, 2024

Nwakali’s contributions were notable, but ultimately, the team failed to secure a single victory or draw in their EFL Trophy campaign.

The 26-year-old joined Barnsley this summer on a three-year deal, five years after leaving Arsenal, eager to make his mark in English football once again.

Although a fitness delay postponed his debut, he was finally featured in Barnsley’s 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town in League One last weekend.

Head coach Darrell Clarke gradually eased him into the squad, allowing Nwakali to play a few minutes in stoppage time during his first game back.

Photo by X

Despite the tough loss, Nwakali has shown promise in his short time at Barnsley, with his first assist marking a positive step forward.

Now, with the FA Cup clash against Port Vale on Saturday, the team will look to bounce back from their EFL Trophy exit and make a stronger statement in their next outing.

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Last Updated on October 30, 2024 7:31 am by footballrover