Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi on Saturday scored his first goal of the season for Chinese club Tianjin Teda in their 2-1 win over Guangzhou R&F.
Mikel, an ever present in his side’s lineup since the start of the six-week old Chinese Super League netted the equaliser for his side after they went behind through Chen Zhizhao’s 8th minute opener for Guangzhou.
The former Chelsea star ghosted inside the penalty box, controlled Ghanaian Frank Acheampong’s cut back before deftly rolling the ball beyond goalkeeper Cheng Yuelei after holding off his marker, Huang Zhengyu.
Mikel’s 27th minute goal was swiftly followed by Hui Jiakang’s goal two minutes later. The home boy headed home Acheampong’s corner for what turned out to be the match winner in the end.
Mikel completed the match’s duration as he has done in TEDA’s five previous games in the league, helping Uli Stielike’s men to eighth on the log but still one point behind Saturday’s foes Guangzhou.
Mikel had provided two assists for Acheampong’s hattrick in TEDA’s only league victory so far and his scoring form will be a delight to Eagles coach Gernot Rohr whose team lacked the cutting edge the last time they converged in Mikel’s absence.
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