Europa League: Balogun sees red, Olayinka scores, Chukwueze bags second assist

  Nigeria defender Leon Balogun bagged a red card (second yellow card) as his club Rangers failed to qualify for the quarterfinals, losing 2-0 on the night, BSNSports.com.ng reports. Balogun and his Nigerian compatriot Joe Aribo both started the game at Ibrox as the Gers hoped to build on the 1-1 draw they secured away at Slavia Prague last week. It was however the visitors that opened scoring through the third Nigerian on the Ibrox pitch, Peter Olayinka for his third goal in nine appearances in the competition so far this season. Balogun’s red card is the fourth of his career after bagging one for Mainz O5 (a second yellow) in 75 Bundesliga 1 appearances (against Hamburg), one (second yellow) in 14 Bundesliga 3 games and a straight red card in a Regionalliga West game for Fortuna Dusseldorf 11 against RW Oberhausen in October 2012. Meanwhile Samuel Chukwueze provided an assist as Villarreal defeated visiting Dynamo Kiev 2-0 to qualify for the quarterfinals. It was the Nigerian’s second assist in seven Europa League games this season. Chukwueze and Olayinka will be hoping another battle of Nigerians as witnessed in the round of 16 tie between Rangers and Slavia Prague is avoided when the quarterfinals draw holds today (Friday).