Nigerian striker Rafiu Durosinmi stepped up when it mattered most, scoring a dramatic late penalty to help Viktoria Plzen defeat Servette 3-1 in Switzerland on Wednesday night.

The win sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory for the Czech side in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, Footballrover reports.

Rafiu Durosinmi’s Penalty Powers Plzen into UCL Next Round

The crucial clash began with Servette drawing first blood in front of their home fans at the Stade de Genève.

Alexis Antunes struck early in the 4th minute, building on Servette’s 1-0 win from the first leg and putting them 2-0 up on aggregate.

But Plzen responded with a furious comeback. Within two minutes, the tide turned—Karel Spacil scored in the 29th minute, and Matej Vydra followed up with another in the 31st.

The Czech club now had the lead heading into halftime.

Red Cards, VAR Drama, and Durosinmi’s Cool Finish Seal the Deal

The second half was filled with tension. Adrian Zeljkovic received a straight red card in the 66th minute, reducing Plzen to ten men.

But the numbers evened out quickly when Servette’s defender Yoan Severin earned a second yellow just three minutes later.

With both sides chasing a winner, substitute Merchas Doski made a crucial run into the box in the 87th minute.

A defensive blunder from Magnin led to Doski being fouled, and after a lengthy VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot.

Rafiu Durosinmi held his nerve under intense pressure and calmly slotted the penalty past Joel Mall.

The goal sent the visitors into the third qualifying round and silenced the Swiss crowd.

What’s Next for Durosinmi and Plzen?

Viktoria Plzen’s reward is a mouthwatering tie against Scottish giants Rangers Glasgow, who eliminated Panathinaikos with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Plzen now face an important moment: win, and they enter the Champions League league phase; lose, and they drop into the Europa League group stage.

Regardless of what lies ahead, Durosinmi is already a top name in the Plzen side and will be looking to score more in their European campaign—delivering when it counted most.

Like this post?
We’d be delighted to hear from you. Please leave a comment in the box below!

Last Updated on July 31, 2025 9:10 am by Sir Kris