Nigeria Players Abroad
Jennifer Echegini breaks Italian Serie A duck with Juventus winner over Sassuolo
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria forward, Jennifer Echegini scored her first-ever professional goal for Juventus as her team edged Sassuolo 1-0 in an Italian Serie A encounter on Sunday.
The Old Ladies had won three straight games ahead of the trip to Sassuolo and Maelle Garbino had the first chance of the game for the visitors in the 15th minute which was saved by keeper Solene Durand.
Two minutes later, Sofia Cantore got into the box and tried her luck but she fired wide off the goal post.
Durand was at her best again to pull off another save by Barbara Bonansea as she also denied Julia Grosso’s attempt after a good play by Cantore in the 28th minute.
The French goalie ensured that her side didn’t concede in the first half as Juventus continued in the same manner of creating chances without converting in the second half until the introduction of Echegini in the 78th minute.
The Nigeria international replaced Cantore and only needed ten minutes to register her goal, breaking the deadlock.
The goal was her first in the Italian football for Juventus after two appearances since she joined from Florida State University (FSU) this month.
Juventus occupy the second position on the table with 33 points after 13 games. They will next face Fiorentina on January 29, 2024.
