Conference League: Onuachu injured after early goal, Dessers ends drought

Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu suffered an injury just minutes after opening the scoring for Trabzonspor in their UEFA Conference League clash against Finnish side KuPS Kuopio on Thursday, while fellow Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers got off the mark in the competition with a goal for Panathinaikos.

Onuachu needed only three minutes to make his mark at Tammela Stadium, finishing a through pass from ex Liverpool Super star Mohamed Salah to give the Turkish side an early advantage.

However, what started as a promising outing quickly turned into a worrying moment for Trabzonspor as the Nigerian forward went down injured and was unable to continue.

The former Southampton striker was forced off in the 10th minute, just seven minutes after scoring, with Franculino Djú introduced as his replacement.

The setback came at a particularly frustrating time for Onuachu, who was making his first start since Thomas Reis took charge of Trabzonspor. The Nigerian had recently been limited to late appearances from the bench as he worked towards securing a regular place in the starting lineup.

His selection against KuPS presented an opportunity to make a strong impression on the European stage, and he took it almost immediately by finding the net. Unfortunately, the injury cut short his involvement before he could build on that early contribution.

The incident will raise concerns over the striker’s fitness, especially with Trabzonspor facing further domestic commitments in the coming weeks.

Trabzonspor are yet to release an official statement detailing the nature or severity of Onuachu’s injury. His availability for the club’s upcoming fixtures therefore remains uncertain pending further assessment.

Dessers Opens Conference League Account in Panathinaikos Victory

Meanwhile, Cyriel Dessers delivered a timely boost for Panathinaikos, scoring his first UEFA Conference League goal as the Greek side defeated Bosnian outfit Borac Banja Luka 2-1 on Thursday evening at the OACA in Marousi.

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The Nigerian striker broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the first half after being brought down inside the area. Following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention, the referee awarded the spot-kick, and Dessers stepped up to convert with composure, sending goalkeeper Mladen Jurkas the wrong way.

Panathinaikos carried their advantage into the second half, with Zambian midfielder Kings Kangwa adding a second goal to strengthen the hosts’ position.

Borac Banja Luka attempted to mount a comeback, and Serbian midfielder Milos Jojic pulled one back for the visitors. However, Panathinaikos held on to secure a 2-1 victory.

For Dessers, the goal represented an important milestone as he looks to build momentum after a difficult start to the campaign that was disrupted by fitness problems.

The former Rangers forward had already played a significant role during the qualifying rounds, scoring three goals in three matches to help Panathinaikos secure their place in the competition’s group stage.

His latest contribution marked his first goal since the Greek club sealed qualification for the main phase of the tournament, offering encouragement as he continues his return to full fitness.

Dessers will now hope to use the breakthrough as a platform to rediscover his best form and establish himself as a consistent attacking threat for Panathinaikos in the matches ahead.