UECL RO16: Gift Orban nets again as Gent hold Istanbul Basaksehir
Nigerian youngster continues red-hot form for Belgian outfit
Gift Orban got his name on the scoresheet again for KAA Gent in their 1-1 draw at home to Istanbul Basaksehir in their UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 first leg meeting. The young striker scored his second goal in only three appearances in the competition.
Having played a key role in helping the Belgian side reach the last 16 with a shootout win over Qarabag, 20-year-old Orban was tasked with leading the line against the Turkish side at home.
Istanbul Basaksehir took the lead only 16 minutes into the clash through veteran Italian striker Stefano Chuka Okaka. The former AS Roma star timed his run perfectly and rose highest to glance home a header following a perfect cross from Serdar Guler.
The home side found an equaliser only 20 minutes later through the in-form Gift Orban. The former Stabaek man was on hand to turn home a loose ball from close range after impressive dribbling from 17-year-old Malick Fofana.
Neither side managed a goal for the rest of the encounter and they will renew hostilities in Turkey one week from now. Orban has now scored five goals in seven games for the Belgian side who paid £3 million for his services in January. He also earned the club’s Player of the Month award for February.
