Nigerian striker Victor Olatunji scored for Sparta Prague to help them to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Salzburg in their opening game of the UEFA Champions League, Soccernet.ng reports.
Reigning Czech Republic champions Sparta Prague kicked off their UEFA Champions League campaign with a game against Salzburg at the epet Arena in Prague. And Nigerian striker Olatunji, who has been the main man for Sparta Prague since last season, got a starting shirt in the strikers position- his debut in the Champions League.
The Czech side had a dream start as they took the lead just a minute into the game courtesy of Kaan Kairinen. After conceding, Salzburg started to dominate the game, but they failed to make any clear-cut opportunity.
Sparta Prague were better co-ordinated and held their lines better. They eventually got their second, and it was courtesy of Nigeria striker Olatunji. A long ball was played from Sparta Prague’s defense, Olatunji got to it, and he took a one-time shot to send the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Then, in the second half, Olatunji supplied the assist for Qazim Laci for Sparta Prague’s third. In his 58 minutes of action, the 25-year-old striker registered two goal attempts, 14 touches, and won four of his seven duels. The game eventually ended 3-0 in Sparta Prague’s favour.
According to Opta, Olatunji’s goal made him the third African player to score and assist on his Champions League debut, after Daniel Cousin in 2007 (for Rangers vs Lyon) and Serge Aurier in 2015 (for PSG vs Shakhtat Donetsk).