Gifted Markson
In a dramatic UEFA Champions League night, 18-year-old Nigerian forward George Ilenikhena became AS Monaco’s youngest-ever scorer in Champions League, netting the crucial winner as his side edged past FC Barcelona 2-1.
The game saw plenty of drama, with Monaco capitalizing on an early red card that left Barcelona reduced to 10 men.
The match began with high intensity, and Barcelona was dealt a major blow in just the 11th minute when Eric Garcia was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul, forcing the Spanish giants to play with 10 men for the remainder of the game.
Monaco quickly took advantage of their numerical superiority, and just five minutes later, Akliouche M. slotted home the opening goal in the 16th minute to give the Ligue 1 side a deserved lead.
However, Barcelona responded swiftly. In the 28th minute, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal equalized with a stunning strike, leveling the score at 1-1 and reigniting hopes for the Blaugrana despite their disadvantage.
The second half saw both teams pushing for the winner, but it was Monaco who had the final say. In the 71st minute, Ilenikhena latched onto a through ball and calmly finished past the Barcelona goalkeeper, sealing the 2-1 victory for Monaco. The goal not only secured all three points but also etched Ilenikhena’s name into Monaco’s record books as their youngest scorer in Champions League history.
With this win, Monaco strengthens their chances in the group, while Barcelona is left to regroup after a hard-fought match where they played most of the game with 10 men. Ilenikhena’s heroics have further highlighted the Nigerian youngster as a rising star to watch.