Nigerian International Ibrahim Olawoyin stole the show with a goal and an assist, leading Rizespor to a crucial 3-2 victory over Demirspor at the Çaykur Didi Stadyumu on Sunday.
Rizespor entered the match reeling from a 2-0 loss to Başakşehir and a dismal run of just one win in five games. Demirspor were also struggling, having lost their previous three matches.
Despite their struggles, Rizespor started strong, scoring a goal in the 19th minute that was ultimately ruled out for offside. However, Olawoyin soon made up for it, netting his second goal of the season to put the home team ahead.
Rizespor maintained their momentum in the second half, scoring shortly after the break as Olawoyin set up Ali Sowe. However, Demirspor fought back, with Bünyamin Balat scoring five minutes later to narrow the deficit.
With the score at 2-1, another Nigerian international, David Akintola, made his mark by winning a penalty that Rachid Ghezzal expertly converted, extending Rizespor’s lead.
Demirspor refused to give up, scoring another goal in the 83rd minute to set up a tense finish. However, Rizespor held on to secure all three points despite failing to score a penalty in the dying minutes of the game.
The win keeps Rizespor eighth in the Super Lig table with 27 points from 20 matches. Next up, they face a daunting challenge against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbache on Sunday, February 2.
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