Chibuike Nwaiwu delivered a decisive performance as Trabzonspor secured a hard fought 2-1 victory over league leaders Galatasaray at Papara Park on Saturday.
The Nigerian centre back proved to be the difference on the day, scoring the winning goal just two minutes after the hour mark to hand his side all three points in a crucial title race encounter. His strike, a well taken header, marked his third goal of the season for the Black Sea Storm.
Trabzonspor showed strong intent throughout the contest, matching the visitors with intensity and discipline before capitalising on key moments to edge the game. Nwaiwu’s goal ultimately settled the contest and sparked celebrations among the home supporters.
Speaking after the match, the 22 year old expressed his delight at contributing to the win while highlighting the importance of positioning in scoring his goal. “I’m really happy that I was able to score. But the most important factor in being able to score headers was being in the right position. Because I was in the right position, I was able to hit the ball,” he said.
The defender also stressed the significance of the victory in the context of the title race. “First of all, I want to start by thanking God. I am truly grateful for this important victory, for these three points. We knew the importance of this match. We were prepared for it and we got the three points,” he added.
The win lifts Trabzonspor into second place on the league table, now just one point behind Galatasaray, tightening the race for the title.
Chibuike Nwaiwu all round display was equally impressive. Making his 10th league start of the season, he played the full 90 minutes and was solid defensively, recording six clearances, four blocked shots, six recoveries and two interceptions.
He also had 56 touches and completed 30 of his 35 passes, with his only shot on target proving to be the match winner.
