Alex Iwobi’s goal on Saturday drew him level with Peter Odemwingie on the list of Nigeria’s Premier League scorers and gave Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa his first win, a 1-0 victory over Hull City at Craven Cottage, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Iwobi struck in the 33rd minute of the 100th meeting between the clubs in all competitions. Hull twice failed to clear their lines, and Sander Berge slid the ball to the Super Eagles midfielder on the edge of the box.
His low shot took a deflection off Lucas Herrington and squirmed under goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, who perhaps should have done better.
The goal was Iwobi’s first in the league this season and ended a frustrating start for him. Before the game, he had created 13 chances in six league matches, more than any other Fulham player, without scoring or providing an assist. It took his total to 36 goals in 327 Premier League appearances.
That leaves him joint-sixth among Nigerians, level with Odemwingie.
The match was a meeting of three Super Eagles. Calvin Bassey captained Fulham and played the full game alongside Iwobi, while Semi Ajayi also went the distance for Hull in defence. Bassey has started regularly under Arbeloa, and Ajayi has scored once for Hull this season.
The result was Fulham’s first win of the season after six league games without one. They moved to five points and off the bottom of the table, out of the relegation zone.
Arbeloa succeeded Marco Silva in July and had taken only two points from his first six games. Reports before the match suggested he had as few as two games to turn results around after the 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town on October 10, so the win eased the scrutiny on him.
Hull, who had started the season well with a win over Manchester United on the opening day and a draw at Chelsea, created little. Mohamed Belloumi dragged a shot wide of the post in the second half, which was arguably their best effort. They sit ninth after starting the day eighth.
Fulham ended the match with 10 men after Ryan Sessegnon was sent off in added time for a studs-up challenge on the back of Robinio Vaz’s calf.
Liverpool great Steve McManaman said of the goal: “Yeah, it is good to see Alvaro Arbeloa get his first win. Slight deflection from Iwobi’s shot on the goal.
“From this angle you think yes but it just gets a little deflection to score. Goalkeeper unable to dive over to his near post.”
Iwobi now sits behind Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Nwankwo Kanu, Efan Ekoku, Shola Ameobi and former Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho on the all-time Nigerian scorers list.