UEFA ROUNDUP: Ndidi, Arokodare hit target; Tella subbed, Chukwueze not listed
A host of established Super Eagles players were in action for their various teams last night some hitting the heights while others were missing action for their clubs in two prestigious European competitions.
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi led the way when he helped 10-man Besiktas secure a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at home in a UEFA Europa League game played on Thursday.
Ndidi put his club ahead in the second minute of the game when he found the back of the net with the first shot on target after he was set up by his teammate Salih Ozcan.
The goal scored by Ndidi which was recorded as his first European strike for the modest Turkish club was enough to separate both sides as the first half of game ended 1-0 in favour of the home team.
However, Crystal Palace came out firing on all cylinders in the second half of the game when Yeremi Pino equalised in the 51st minute of the match to make it 1-1 following an inviting assist provided by Anan Khalaili.
The London-based club took the lead in the game for the first time when France striker Jean Philip- Mateta scored to make it 2-1 in the 55th minute of the encounter to silence the cheering home crowd.
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Besiktas were forced to take the game to their opponents in search of an equaliser and their efforts paid off 18 minutes later when Benin Republic international Junior Olaitan put the ball at the back of the net in the 73rd minute to level scores at 2-2.
The home team were later reduced to 10-men when Umit Akdag was sent off by the centre referee for a rough tackle in the 77th minute. Despite playing with a one-man disadvantage, Besiktas were able to hold Crystal Palace for the remainder of the game which ended in a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes.
In other Europa League games, Nathan Tella was subbed as Bayer Leverkusen beat OFI Crete 2-0 at home. Samuel Chukwueze was not listed as AC Milan lost 3-0 away to Bournemouth. Tochukwu Nnadi was also on the losing side as Olympic Marseille lost 1-0 at home to Sturm Graz.
In the UEFA Conference League, Tolu Arokodare was the star of the show as he helped Ajax Amsterdam to secure a 2-0 win at home to Italian club Atalanta at the Ajax Arena.
After a goalless first half, Arokodare who was making his second appearance in the competition, came off the bench in the 66th minute to win the game for Ajax Amsterdam with a goal and an assist in the tightly contested encounter.
The burly Super Eagles striker broke the deadlock in the 87th minute of the game to give his team the lead for the first time in the match after piling pressure on the opponents defence.
Arokodare who is on loan from English club, Wolverhampton Wanderers later provided an assist to set up teammate Abdellah Ouazane in the 93rd minute as Ajax finished the game 2-0 to the delight of the home fans.
