Tag: Onuachu

Trabzonspor head coach Fatih Tekke has praised his players’ character and resilience following their pulsating 4–3 triumph over Fatih Karagümrük in the 7^th  week of the Trendyol Süper Lig Mehmet Ali Yılmaz Season.

Speaking after the contest at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Tekke described the game as one of high intensity and emotions, noting that his team showed both quality and determination to secure maximum points.

 “It was a very difficult game, especially against a side that never gave up. We started strongly, scored important goals in the first half, but we also allowed Karagümrük back into the match,” Tekke said.

 “The reaction of the team in the closing stages was very important. We fought until the end, and that spirit gave us the victory.”

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Trabzonspor took control early with Felipe Augusto’s 20^th -minute opener, before Paul Onuachu struck twice in the 35^th  and deep into first-half stoppage time. However, Karagümrük pushed back with goals of their own to level the game, forcing a tense finale. Substitute Danylo Sikan became the match-winner with his 88^th -minute strike.

Tekke singled out the contribution of his forwards while stressing those defensive lapses must be corrected ahead of upcoming fixtures.

 “Onuachu was excellent, and Sikan gave us the decisive moment, but as a team we must defend better. Conceding three goals is not acceptable at this level,” he added.

“Still, the mentality to keep going and score a late winner is what I want from my players.”

Trabzonspor will return to action on Friday, October 3, when they host Zecorner Kayserispor at Papara Park in their Matchday 8 clash.

Southampton head coach Ivan Juric has hinted at pairing Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, and Cameron Archer as a striking duo as the Croatian continues to explore new options to boost his team’s attacking performance due to their struggles to escape the relegation zone.

The Saints currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League table with a meagre nine points from 26 games, a whopping 13 points adrift of 17^th -placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The team’s relegation prospect is compounded by injuries, which have forced Ivan Juric to deploy Nigerian midfielder Joe Aribo to the left side of a back three, and with injured defenders yet to return, Aribo may continue in this unfamiliar role.

With relegation looming, Ivan Juric may be forced to consider another tactical shake-up, possibly pairing Onuachu and Archer up front to exploit their complementary skills.

Onuachu excels as a target man, bringing others into play with his ability to hold up the ball and play with his back to goal. His silky footwork and vision also make him a valuable asset in attack. Archer, on the other hand, is a pacey forward with exceptional dribbling skills and agility, making him a nightmare for defenders to deal with.

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When asked about the possibility of Onuachu and Archer playing together, Ivan Juric stated in his pre-match press conference that “it’s an option.” With both strikers scoring only two goals each in the premier league this season, the head coach will be hoping that pairing them together can help them find their scoring form.

However, the Saints face Chelsea next, and Ivan Juric will be seeking an immediate turnaround in fortunes as a win against the out-of-form Blues would be a massive boost to their survival hopes.

As the season enters its final stretch, Ivan Juric knows that every game is a must-win for his team and he’ll be relying on his players to show the fight and determination needed to stay in the Premier League.

Paul Onuachu scored a dramatic late winner as Southampton secured their first Premier League victory since November at fellow strugglers Ipswich.

While Saints remain anchored to the bottom of the table with just nine points from 24 games, their win also arrests a run of six consecutive top-flight defeats and is the first time they have taken three points since Ivan Juric was appointed manager on 21 December.

The visitors had opened the scoring in the first half when Joe Aribo’s bouncing first-time effort deceived home goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.

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Liam Delap levelled for the hosts before the break, racing away from Saints captain Jan Bednarek to place a low effort past Aaron Ramsdale.

And in a largely uninspiring encounter Omari Hutchinson, Julio Enciso and Delap had opportunities to claim all three points for Kieran McKenna’s side.

However, when substitute Kamaldeen Sulemana’s effort was only parried by Muric, Nigeria forward Onuachu was on hand to prod in the rebound.

Until that point the Tractor Boys had looked set to move out of the relegation zone on goal difference, but instead stay 19th.

Nigeria International striker  Paul Onuachu  has dedicated his  first ever  English Premier League goal  to fans  of  Southampton ‘who has been cheering me to get  this goal’.

Onuachu   who made his name in the   Danish  and Belgian leagues  and voted Belgian Footballer of the Year where he also won the country’s top scoring Golden Bull trophy, only scored  his first goal   for the  Saints  in Sunday’s  2-3  away loss to  Nottingham Forest.

He joined the Saints from Genk  in  February 2023  on a three-and-a-half-year contract but was  soon farmed out to in September 2023  Trabzonspor in the  Turkish Lig 1  on a season-long loan.  Despite spirited efforts by Trabzonspor, Southampton failed  to extend Onuachu’s stay in Turkey as he returned  to help the Saints on their EPL return.

Sunday’s game was his 12^th  in the on-going campaign and his  26^th in all  competitions  for the Saints, as he finally broke his scoring  duck in what was his 23^rd EPL game  in the  away loss to The Reds.

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The 30-year-old striker came off the bench to climb highest and nod home a corner in stoppage time.

 “It is a good  feeling to score  but it was disappointing that  we lost,” Onuachu  said in an interview with the Saints’ official website.  “Actually, I’m happy that I  scored in front of the fans  because they have been  brilliant,  they have been supportive even though we are last on the table   and they have ben cheering me to get this goal.

“ I think all  kudos to them for the goal  because they have been cheering me on to get this goal,” he added.

In a related development, Southampton manager Ivan Juric has applauded Onuachu  for grabbing his

his first Premier League goal.

“There are some players that I like, they have some quality and he has this quality. He’s tough, he’s a fighter, he’s tall with the ability to head,” Juric  reportedly told The Daily Echo. “He’s very good and he will give everything he can, I think he will be very good for us.

 “I am very happy for him that he scored.” 

Trabzonspor have clarified that they cannot afford to pay €15 million for Nigeria international and Southampton striker Paul Onuachu.

The towering player had a successful loan spell at Trabzonspor – scoring 15 goals in 21 Turkish Super Lig matches and also netted twice in four Turkish Cup games in the 2023/24 season.

The Turkish club are interested in purchasing Onuachu from the English Premier League side who are asking for €15 million and Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan revealed how much they offered for the player.

 “Onuachu was a player who played for us on loan last season. His club insistently demands around 15 million euros. We offered 8 million euros with bonuses,” Doğan said on NTVSpor. “Trabzonspor cannot give 15 million euros to a football player right now. A player is 20-22 years old, it is our coach’s request, then it will be considered

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“However, Trabzonspor cannot make such an offer to a 30-year-old player. The last 2-3 days. The situation is clear. We will wait and see.”

It remains to be seen whether the two clubs will reach an agreement over Onuachu with the Turkish transfer window set to close tonight.

Southampton head coach, Russell Martins, has revealed that Super Eagles attacker, Paul Onuachu will figure in his programme for the season.

Onuachu who joined Southampton January two seasons ago was farmed to Trabzonspor last season after he played 11 matches in the second half of 2022-23 without scoring a goal with the Saints going on relegation in the process.

But the former Midjylland attacker turned a new leaf in Turkey scoring 17 goals with four assists from just 25 games in all competitions for Trabzonspor last season.

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Despite rumours of him returning to Turkey Onuachu came off the bench in the 72^nd  minute of Southampton’s final pre-season friendly last weekend – a 0-0 draw with Getafe.

It was the first Saints appearance for Onuachu, 30, since the 3-1 EFL Cup defeat to Gillingham more than a year ago in August 2023.

“I just think he’s different to what we have. He’s trained really, really well,” Russell told the club’s website. “He’s a different Paul to the one I came across last season in terms of confidence. I think the last pre-season was so difficult for so many of them.”

Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan has given a full update on the transfer situation of Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu.

Onuachu has returned to training in England with parent club Southampton after an extended break.

However, boss of Turkish giants Trabzonspor told A Spor that there has been progress in negotiations between his club and Southampton in the Premier League for the giant striker.

 “There is no problem between us and Onuachu,” Dodan disclosed.

 “He and his family love the city very much, he constantly repeats to us and his family that he wants to stay here.

“His club have a serious offer, they are slowly going down (on their asking price). We are also going up. Hopefully, we plan to finalise this business within the next week.”

The club president also revealed they are working on getting another top-class centre-forward alongside Onuachu.

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 “There are other centre-forwards we are working on, we can get both of them,” he said.

 “One is a player with the same profile like Onuachu. He is a well-known player in the world, we are in talks.

 “Hopefully, in the coming days. Maybe we want to add one of them to our squad together with Onuachu.

 “Both of them are progressing. Our intention is to get both of them, but there are (foreign) quotas (to consider).”