Kelechi Iheanacho continued his remarkable start to life at Bursaspor, scoring twice as the Turkish side came from behind to defeat Batman Petrolspor 2-1 away from home on Saturday, Trybal News reports.
The Super Eagles forward converted a 60th-minute penalty before striking again in the 85th minute to complete the comeback and send Bursaspor to the top of the Turkish 1. Lig.
Batman Petrolspor had taken the lead in the 29th minute through Matheus Doria, but Iheanacho changed the game after the interval.
His first goal from the penalty spot restored parity before his second, 10 minutes from full time, completed Bursaspor’s turnaround.
The brace takes Iheanacho’s tally to 11 goals and two assists in eight league appearances. Remarkably, he has scored in every league game since joining the club, extending his scoring streak to eight consecutive matches.
That run has now seen him match a notable Bursaspor record previously set by Brazilian striker Fernandao, who scored in eight successive Süper Lig matches during the 2014/15 season.
Iheanacho’s next league appearance will therefore give him the opportunity to establish a new club record for consecutive scoring matches.
Beyond his goals, the Nigerian was also involved in the contest across the pitch. He recorded four shots, 32 touches and 16 passes, completing 11, while winning both of his aerial duels. He also contested six ground duels, winning two.
Iheanacho joined Bursaspor as a free agent this summer following his spell at Celtic, where he won the Scottish league and cup double. His immediate impact in Turkey has been significant, with his goals helping Bursaspor establish themselves at the top end of the 1. Lig.
Saturday’s victory moved Bursaspor to 19 points from eight matches, putting them top of the table, although Kayserispor remain three points behind with a game in hand.
Iheanacho’s extraordinary scoring run also comes ahead of his return to the Nigeria setup. The former Leicester City forward has been recalled to the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming international fixture against Russia, marking his first Nigeria call-up in more than a year.
With his confidence high and his goals continuing to flow, Iheanacho now heads into the international break within touching distance of creating another piece of Bursaspor history.
