In-form Chukwueze on the scoresheet again in Villarreal win
Super Eagles winger nets 11th goal of the season for Yellow Submarine
Samuel Chukwueze continued with his rich vein of form as he found the net for Villarreal in their 3-0 win over strugglers Osasuna in La Liga. The Super Eagles winger marked his invitation to the national team with a goal and took his personal tally to 11 across all competitions for the Yellow Submarine this season.
A man who has received a new lease of life under Quique Setien, it took only 14 minutes of the first half for Chukwueze to open the scoring for his side with a brilliant improvised finish. The 23-year-old winger was left free in the box to attack a cross from left-back Alfonso Pedraza, meeting the ball powerfully with his knee to beat the goalkeeper and score his fourth La Liga goal of the season and 11th in all competitions.
Three minutes later, he was back on the scoresheet with a sweet finish off his dominant left foot, only for a tight offside call to go against him and the VAR ruled out the effort. The Yellow Submarine lost Spanish striker Gérard Moreno to injury shortly after the half-hour mark, with Jose Luis Morales sent on in his stead.
In response to going behind, the home side pushed forward and began to cause problems for their visitors, with the frame of Pepe Reina’s goal coming to his rescue a number of times.
Chukwueze was hauled off in the 85th minute, with right-back Kiko Femenia entering the fray in his place.
Villarreal found a way to double their advantage less than a minute later through striker Morales. The Spaniard picked up a loose ball in the centre circle and noticing the goalkeeper off his line, sent an effort which went over his head and bounced into the back of the net.
The 35-year-old former Levante forward scored his side’s third goal in added time as he finished off a pass from winger Yeremy Pino to seal a comprehensive win for Villarreal.
Villarreal occupy sixth place in La Liga and are only seven points outside the UEFA Champions League places. The Yellow Submarine put the disappointment of their UEFA Europa Conference League exit behind them to secure a vital win going into the international break.
