After 10 matches in the Super Lig, Nigerian star Ibrahim Olawoyin has finally recorded his first assist of the season.
However, his impressive contribution wasn’t enough to secure a victory for Rizespor in their away match against Sivasspor at the New Sivas 4 Eylul Stadium, Footballrover reports.
Despite Olawoyin’s creativity on the field, the visitors succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, leaving them searching for answers as they struggled to find form.
The 26-year-old winger delivered his first goal contribution of the season after an exhausting 802 minutes of gameplay.
Coming into the match on the heels of back-to-back victories—a 2-1 win over Antalyaspor and a 1-0 win against Bodrumspor—Rizespor was eager to build on this momentum.
However, their hopes quickly faded.
It took Olawoyin just eight minutes to set up teammate Dal Varešanović with a beautifully timed cross, leading to the opening goal.
Yet, this early lead slipped away as a second-half brace from Noah Sonko dashed the visitors’ dreams of a third consecutive win.
Sonko, the 28-year-old Gambian forward, struck four minutes into the second half and added another goal 12 minutes later, turning the tide in favour of the hosts.
The drama escalated when Sivasspor was reduced to ten men in the 72nd minute after Ugur Ciftci received a second yellow card for a foul.
However, Rizespor failed to capitalise on their advantage, ultimately falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Ibrahim Olawoyin’s impact on the game
Olawoyin’s performance was commendable; he created the most chances in the match with five and completed two successful dribbles.
Across his 59 touches, three occurred in the opposition’s box, resulting in 37 accurate passes, including six into the final third.
His contributions extended beyond the offensive play, as he made five recoveries, one clearance, and one interception while winning four ground duels.
Despite these efforts, the 2-cap Super Eagles star and his teammates could not relish their third league win in a row, instead conceding three vital points on the road.
Rizespor has now only secured three victories this season, alongside one draw and six defeats, placing them 15th in the league and just one point above the relegation zone.
They will look to improve their fortunes when they face Trabzonspor next Saturday.
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