Ashleigh Plumptre shone brightly as Al Ittihad secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Eastern Flames in the Saudi Women’s Premier League on Friday, according to Soccernet.ng.
The Nigerian international and Super Falcons defender was instrumental throughout the match, delivering two precise assists in the first half that set the tone for her team’s commanding performance.
This impressive outing adds to Plumptre’s strong start in Saudi Arabia, following her influential role last week against Al Ula, where she also captained the side.
Al Ittihad opened the scoring in the 19th minute through Hala Khashoggi. Shortly after, Plumptre showcased her vision by setting up Algerian forward Lina Boussaha, who doubled the lead with a composed finish.
The duo combined once more just before halftime, with Plumptre threading a clever pass that allowed Boussaha to complete her brace and extend the lead to 3-0.
Stay Updated with the Latest Sports News – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Today!
In the second half, fellow Nigerian Francisca Ordega came on in the 65th minute as Al Ittihad maintained control to close out the match comfortably.
This win propels Al Ittihad temporarily into second place, matching leaders Al Nassr on six points but trailing on goal difference. The two teams are set to clash in a crucial top-table encounter on September 27.
Meanwhile, Nigerian players competing across Europe experienced varied outcomes.
In Belgium, young Super Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick was introduced off the bench for FCV Dender but was unable to prevent a 3-0 loss to Gent.
Gent had already established a two-goal lead before Fredrick’s 57th-minute entry, with Algerian midfielder Abdelkahar Kadri adding a late third to seal the defeat.
In Portugal, Zaidu Sanusi enjoyed a more successful evening with Porto. Coming on after halftime, he contributed to a 3-0 triumph over Rio Ave.
Porto’s goals came from Pablo Rosario and Samu Aghehowa, both assisted by Gabri Veiga, who later wrapped up the victory himself.
This victory extended Porto’s flawless run to six wins in six matches, widening their lead at the summit by six points.
Over in Turkey, Anthony Dennis played the full match as Goztepe stunned Besiktas with a 3-0 victory. German-Nigerian defender Felix Uduokhai featured for Besiktas, while Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was not included in the squad.
In Germany, Oladapo Afolayan made a brief appearance for St Pauli during their 2-0 loss to Stuttgart. Meanwhile, in Spain, Umar Sadiq was omitted from Real Sociedad’s squad as they fell 3-1 to Real Betis.
For now, Ashleigh Plumptre remains the standout Nigerian abroad, delivering two assists and a commanding performance that underscores her growing impact in Saudi women’s football.
0 Comments