Nigeria Players Abroad
Asisat Oshoala at the double in Barcelona thrashing win over Villareal
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria forward, Asisat Oshoala added to her goal tally with two goals as Spanish league holders, FC Barcelona secured a 6-0 win against Villareal on Saturday.
2023 Ballon d’Or winner, Aitana Bonmati opened the scoring for the Catalan side in the 14th minute as she received a pass from Keira Walsh at the edge of the box, turned into the box before hitting a shot into the bottom right corner.
Ten minutes later, Africa’s record Women’s Player of the Year winner, Oshoala doubled the lead for the visitors as she was at the end of Ona Batlle’s cross from the left wing to tap in the doubler.
Five minutes into the second half, Bonmati scored her second goal of the encounter after Batlle’s cross from the left wing located the Spanish midfielder who slotted the ball into the net.
After a series of passes outside the box in the 77th minute, Mariona Caldentey’s cross reached Salma Paralluelo who beat Carmen Carbonell in goal for Villareal after a one-on-one chance.
Caroline Graham Hansen made it 5-0 in the 82nd minute from a deflection-aided free kick after a foul on Alexia Putellas in the edge of the box.
Three minutes later, Oshoala completed her brace and sealed a 6-0 win with a rebound from Putellas’ saved effort.
The brace took Oshoala’s goal tally in the league this season to five after seven games as she played the full 90 minutes for her side.
FC Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the league campaign with eight wins out of the first eight games and have a three-point lead over closest rival, Real Madrid.
The team will next meet Portuguese champions, SL Benfica who have Oshoala’s compatriot, Christy Ucheibe on their radar in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) group stage opener on November 14, 2023, at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.
