Rising Nigerian teenager Samuel Chukwueze was in blistering form on Thursday night as his Spanish club Villarreal held current European and World Club champions Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw in a LaLiga game at the El Madrigal.
Chukwueze who has earned rave reviews in his first full season with the Villareal seniors contributed to the hosts’ good start to the game when he found veteran Santi Cazorla with a well weighted pass in the fourth minute, the former Arsenal star firing low into the bottom corner beyond Thibaut Courtois.
The Los Blancos however drew level just three minutes after Cazorla’s goal courtesy of striker Karim Benzema’s header. Real scored again in the nineteenth minute through defender Rafael Varane who headed home Toni Kroos’ cross beyond Sergio Asenjo for 2-1.
The Yellow Submarines however equalised with eight minutes left on the clock when Cazorla completed his brace with a rare header at the far post to earn Javi Garcia Plaza’s men a precious point which provisionally takes them out of the relegation zone on goals difference.
Chukwueze, 19 who already has one cap for Nigeria’s senior national team played the full ninety minutes in the LaLiga encounter, causing problems down the right flank for Real’s illustrious left back Marcelo. The fleet-footed star took on Marcelo on a number of occasions, drawing huge praises from the match commentators.
His stats from the game indicated six successful take-ones, two goalscoring chances created and one assist. Chukwueze has now made seven LaLiga appearances for Villareal this season, scoring two goals and creating one assist – obviously from Thursday night.
The 2015 World Under-17 Championship winner will now hope to continue his good form when Villareal face Eibar away at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on Sunday.
