On Monday night football in the Turkish Super Lig, David Okereke thought he had scored his fourth goal of the season to help Gaziantep secure a crucial 1-0 victory over Rizespor.
However, despite his powerful header, the goal was awarded as an own goal to Rizespor’s Ivo Grbic, Footballrover reports.
David Okereke forced the own goal as the home team sealed a narrow 1-0 league victory over Ibrahim Olawoyin & Babajide Akintola’s Rizespor.
It was an all-Nigerian derby in the Super Lig. Okereke started for The Anatolian Eagles but was substituted in the 89th minute for Ertugrul Ersoy.
For the visitors, Babajide Akintola replaced Casper Hojer in the 62nd minute, while Ibrahim Olawoyin played the full match.
This narrow win keeps the momentum going for David and his teammates as they climbed to 10th place in the league.
David Okereke’s near miss for Gaziantep
Okereke’s close call came early in the match, just four minutes in. Following a corner from Badou Ndiaye, he powered a header toward goal that struck the bar.
Ibrahim Olawoyin
The ball then took a slight touch off Grbic and into the net, but the official decision was to credit it as an own goal.
This unfortunately denied Okereke his third consecutive goal for the hosts.
Gaziantep clinches vital three points
The match, part of the 15th round of the Turkish Super Lig, saw both teams battle hard.
The Hawks entered the game in strong form, having won four straight matches, including a 3-2 win in the Turkish Cup.
The host team, however, continued their excellent home record, earning their fifth consecutive victory at Kalyon Stadyumu.
Despite their dominance, the match remained tight, with both sides creating plenty of chances.
Babajide Akintola
Rizespor’s challenge and Gaziantep’s momentum
The Hawks, boasting a solid run with six wins in their last seven matches across all competitions, had a competitive edge.
However, Gaziantep’s solid defence and well-timed counterattacks helped them claim all three points.
The win moves Gaziantep just one point behind the Atmacalar in 9th place, with both teams eyeing further improvement as the season progresses.
The Anatolian Eagles will look to build on this vital win as they face Alanyaspor next Saturday, aiming to continue their impressive run in the Turkish Super Lig.
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