SuperLig: Osimhen, Olawoyin, Akintola score on crucial day

Nigerian stars Victor Osimhen, Ibrahim Olawoyin and David Akintola scored for their Turkish Super Lig clubs on Sunday in games that meant landmark results for the respective teams, www.aclsports.com reports.

Osimhen scored his 36th goal in all club competitions this season as his side Galatasaray spanked Kayserispor 3-0 at the RAMS Park in Istanbul to secure their 25th league title in grand style.

It was only four days ago that Osimhen scored twice to help Galatasaray lift the Turkish Cup in a 3-0 win over Trabzonspor in a one-sided final, the Nigerian then continued where he left off by netting the opener just before the half hour mark on Sunday.

Turkish attacker Bariş Alper Yilmaz doubled the advantage four minutes later before goalkeeper Fernando Muslera converted a late penalty to ensure that Galatasaray open up an eight-point gap over Fenerbahçe with just two games remaining.

Down South, Çaykur Rizespor confirmed their safety from relegation with two games to spare after a thrilling 6-3 win over Goztepe at the Çaykur Didi Stadium in Rize on Sunday.

After Casper Hojer’s early opener for Rizespor was cancelled out by Romulo, Olawoyin then swiftly restored his side’s lead with a well taken daisy cutter from just inside the box after Gambian striker Ali Sowe cushioned Taha Sahin’s cross for him.

The game escalated in the second half but the two Nigerians in Rizespor’s colour contributed to the game clincher in the 85th and 87th minute. First, Kosovo international Altin Zeqiri found Akintola with a ball over the Goztepe defence and the Ebedei FC product slammed home his second goal of the season from close range.

The last act of the nine goals thriller came two minutes after Akintola’s goal when Olawoyin’s impeccable long ball was latched onto by Man of the Match Altin Zeqiri who kept his composure before scoring his side and the game’s final goal.

The win meant that Rizespor have kept their top flight status for another season under manager Ilhan Palut after they opened up a seven-point gap above 16th placed Bodrumspor with just two games left to play.