Onyekuru Makes It Three Goals In Two Matches Back At Galatasaray

Galatasaray of Turkey returnee, Henry Onyekuru on Tuesday night made it three goals in two matches after returning to the Turkish Super Lig club on loan from AS Monaco of France, with his latest feat coming against a struggling team that featured former under-23 national team captain, Azubuike Okechukwu. Onyekuru scored his third goal back in Turkey on a night Galatasaray beat Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0 and soared to second place in the Super Lig, after the former KAS Eupen and RSC Anderlecht of Belgium lad, who first played for the Istanbul-based side three seasons ago after a transfer from Everton of England, opened scoring after 45 minutes. BSNSports.com.ng reports that the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medalist, who was later replaced in stoppage time, had already scored twice in his first game back at the Istanbul giants when they won away to Gaziantep. Onyekuru and Oghenekaro Etebo both started for The Lions and Okechukwu for the visitors, but it was the lad from Monaco who stood out among the lot, as he struck with a powerful header in the 45th minute, from a brilliant delivery into the box by Ryan Donk. Donk turned from provider to scorer when he also headed home a corner in the 64th minute and Mostafa Mohamed converted a spot kick to make it 3-0 in the second minute of stoppage time. Etebo was substituted at half-time, Okechukwu was replaced in the 88th minute and Onyekuru in the 92nd, as Galatasaray closed the gap on leaders Fenerbahçe to three points after 22 matches played. Gala have 45 points from 22 matches, three points behind Fenerbahçe, with great expectations now on Onyekuru, who is on a third spell with the team that have the option to buy him for six million Euro from Monaco at the end of the season. On the other hand, Okechukwu was left pleading with his club’s fans to be patient with the team in the midst of their struggles, as he informed them that all the players continue to work hard in spite of their current run of poor form that has seen them drop down on the standings. The 23-year-old former Bayelsa United of Yenagoa battler is now enjoying a better time on the pitch, with four appearances, but Istanbul Basaksehir are 15th on the 20-team Super Lig log with 24 points, just four above relegation zone. Tuesday’s loss to Onyekuru’s side came after an embarrassing 5-1 defeat on Saturday at home to Hatayspor and Okechukwu, who went on in the first half of that encounter, admits his side are in freefall, but he remains adamant that a good run of form can help change their fortunes in the course of the ongoing campaign. He enthused that, although the defending champion are on a terrible run, which has since them fail to win any of their last six games, with four defeats in the process, the team will continue to work hard and ensure they get back to the summit. Okechukwu conceded: “It’s been a tough season all round for everyone at the club; the result since the turn of the year has been disappointing but I believe we can still overcome them and get back to our best form which also requires us to win games and get the desired points. “The last game on Saturday was really disastrous for us. Losing at our own backyard but we have to move on from that now and ensure we put smiles back on the faces of our fans who deserve to be happy in these trying times.”