Nigerian star Chidera Ejuke saves 10-man Sevilla with late goal in triumph over Real Valladolid

Nigerian star Chidera Ejuke saves 10-man Sevilla with late goal in triumph over Real Valladolid

Faruq Ibrahim 20:11 - 24.09.2024

Kelechi Iheanacho was named from the start, but it was Chidera Ejuke who came on from the bench and helped Sevilla to victory over Real Valladolid.

Chidera Ejuke has arguably been Sevilla's best player this season, certainly the most entertaining, but he has had to wait for his first LALIGA goal. It proved worth the wait as he struck in the 85th minute to help Sevilla beat Real Valladolid.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ug/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Despite having struggled so far, Kelechi Iheanacho was named from the start, while Ejuke, who has been immense for Garcia Pimenta's side, was rested.

Sevilla got the lead just before half-time after David Torres turned the ball into his own net. Kike Perez restored parity in the 55th minute, before Ejuke, who came on for Navas, scored the winner in the 85th minute.

key match details

Both teams have struggled this season, and it was evident in the way the first-half panned. However, Valladolid, who currently sit 18th, are worse off Sevilla; hence, they conceded just before half-time. 

Dodi Lukebakio's low-driven cross was inadvertently turned into the net by Valladolid's David Torres, which handed Pimenta’s side a deserved lead, as they had intensified their efforts in the minutes leading up to the goal.

Sevilla's start poorly in the second-half, and their woes were compounded when Saul Niguez, who had been their brightest spark in the first-half was stretchered off, and moments later, Kike the hosts equalised thanks to a clever finish from Kike Perez, who latched on to Mario Martin's precise cut-back. 

Stung by the newly-promoted side's leveller, Sevilla vigorously pursued the next goal. Ejuke forced Karl Hein into a spectacular save. However, Hein could not stop the Nigerian later in the game, when he drove across the edge of the box before placing it to the bottom corner for his first goal in LALIGA.

As the match drew to a close, Marcao received his marching orders after accumulating two yellow cards for a cynical foul. Nonetheless, Sevilla held firm to secure their second victory of the season.

Tags: