Super Eagles duo Ibrahim Olawoyin and Henry Onyekuru experienced a night of starkly different outcomes during Tuesday’s Turkish Süper Lig encounter between Çaykur Rizespor and Gençlerbirliği, according to Soccernet.ng.
Olawoyin was a dynamic presence throughout his 62 minutes on the field, playing a key role in Rizespor’s thrilling 1-0 triumph.
Conversely, Onyekuru’s evening was marred by a missed opportunity in the dying moments that could have salvaged a point for his team.
Having returned to Turkey this summer after a stint in Saudi Arabia, the former Galatasaray attacker was introduced in the 83rd minute with the scoreline delicately balanced.
Both sides had yet to claim a victory this season, with Gençlerbirliği eager to halt their downward spiral following four straight losses.
Stay Updated with Our Sports Coverage – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Today!
The contest seemed destined for a draw until Emrecan Bulut netted a stoppage-time winner in the third minute of added time, handing Rizespor the lead.
However, the tension escalated when Gençlerbirliği earned a penalty in the ninth minute of injury time. Onyekuru took responsibility but saw his shot brilliantly saved, condemning his team to a fifth consecutive defeat.
This defeat leaves Gençlerbirliği as the sole team yet to earn any points this season, marking the worst start in their Süper Lig history.
The loss also deepens the challenges faced by coach Hüseyin Eroğlu, who has now endured a 10-match winless streak in the top tier across his tenures with Samsunspor and Gençlerbirliği, recording just one draw alongside nine defeats.
For Gençlerbirliği, newly promoted after four years outside the top flight, this dismal run is especially disheartening.
Their previous worst start was in the 1992-93 season, when they lost their first four matches before finally securing a point. This season’s five consecutive losses have intensified fears of an early relegation battle for the Ankara-based club.
Looking ahead, Gençlerbirliği will face Eyüpspor in Week 6, eager to halt their troubling run. For Onyekuru, who has previously celebrated a Süper Lig title with Galatasaray, the hope remains that this missed penalty will soon be a distant memory.
0 Comments