11th March, 2012
Nigeria’s attacking midfielder, Kalu Uche on Sunday scored a hat-trick to help his club, RCD Espanyol beat Rayo Vallecano 5-1 in the Primera Division in Spain.
The victory took Uche’s modest side to the 8th position on the league table from the 13th spot they were last week.
Uche has been in an impressive form since he joined the Barcelona-based club from his former club, Xamax. Uche started the goals spree in the fourth minute when he headed the ball into their opponents’ net from Javi Lopez’s cross and scored the second in the 45th minute.
Rayo pulled a goal back after the break through former Espanyol favourite, Raul Tamudo, but the Nigerian completed his treble in the 69th minute, making their opponents’ chances of another memorable comeback disappeared. However, Espanyol’s other two goals were scored by on-loan Brazilian midfielder, Coutinho, who through a fine solo effort made the day sweet for the home side, who were beaten 5-0 by Real Madrid last weekend.
Espanyol’s next match will also be at their home stadium, Cornellà – El Prat, against Racing Santander on Monday, 19 March. Also, former Super Eagles’ striker, Isaac Promise, was in superb form for his club, Manisaspor in the Turkish league, scoring the two goals that gave them maximum points over Mersin in one of the matches played on Sunday. Promise’s two goals came in the 70th and 90th minutes of the match.
By Bamidele Olowosagba