At the Estadio de la Cerámica, Sevilla produced one of their most important performances of the season as Nigerian striker Akor Adams scored the decisive goal in a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Villarreal, Soccernet.ng reports.
The victory could prove crucial in Sevilla’s fight to avoid relegation from La Liga while Adams’ strike elevated him into an elite class of Nigeria historymakers.
The Super Eagles forward’s powerful 72nd-minute strike took him to 10 league goals for the season, making him the first Nigerian player in 12 years to reach double figures in Spain’s top flight.
Before Adams’ achievement, the last Nigerian to score at least 10 goals in a La Liga campaign was Ikechukwu Uche, who managed 14 for Villarreal during the 2013/14 season. Adams has now joined an exclusive Nigerian list that also includes Finidi George and former Compostela striker Christopher Ohenhen.
The match itself looked comfortable for Villarreal in the opening stages. The hosts moved ahead after 13 minutes when veteran forward Gerard Moreno finished calmly to make it 1-0.
Seven minutes later, Sevilla’s problems deepened. Georgian striker Georges Mikautadze doubled Villarreal’s lead after combining well with Alberto Moleiro, leaving the home crowd expecting a routine evening.
But Sevilla slowly changed the mood of the contest. Their response arrived in the 36th minute when Oso reduced the deficit with a composed finish after sustained pressure from the visitors.
Suddenly, Villarreal looked nervous, and Sevilla sensed an opportunity before half-time. That equaliser arrived deep into stoppage time in the first half. Defender Kike Salas rose highest inside the penalty area to make it 2-2 just before the referee blew for the break.
Adams delivers another decisive Sevilla moment
Sevilla returned for the second half with greater energy and control, while Villarreal struggled to recover the authority they showed early in the match.
The turning point finally came in the 72nd minute. Adams collected possession just inside the box before driving a fierce left-footed effort beyond the goalkeeper and into the corner. The Nigerian immediately sprinted towards the travelling supporters as his teammates surrounded him in celebration.
It was another massive contribution from the former Montpellier striker, who had also scored a dramatic late winner against Espanyol at the weekend.
Since arriving in Spain, Adams has quickly become one of Sevilla’s most decisive attacking players during the closing weeks of the campaign.
The result means Sevilla have now won three straight league matches and moved four points clear of the relegation zone with only two games remaining. Interestingly, they are now only three points behind Getafe in seventh, the last European qualification spot.
A couple more positive result could officially secure their survival in the division and also seal a ticket to the continent next season.
The defeat, though, was damaging for Villarreal in the race for Champions League qualification. Their hopes of finishing third remain under threat, with Atlético de Madrid still chasing closely behind.
Yet the night ultimately belonged to Adams. Twelve years after Uche last achieved the feat, Nigeria once again has a double-digit scorer in La Liga, and Sevilla may owe their top-flight status to him.