Onyedika gets first UEFA Champions League red card on 10th appearance, Chukwueze bags first assist
Nigeria and Club Brugge KV of Belgium defensive midfielder, Raphael Onyedika got his first marching order in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday at the San Siro in Milan where his club were guest of Samuel Chukwueze’s AC Milan.
Onyedika was given the marching order in the 40th minute for a serious foul play.
The Nigerian was injured in the process of committing the foul and the referee dii not initially caution him but after a review of the situation, the referee decides to show a card for Onyedika.
It is his first in any European competition and second this season after he was sent off in Club Brugge KV’s 1-1 draw at R Charleroi SC in September.
Meanwhile, Chukwueze was subbed on for Rafael Leão on 60 minutes and bagged an assist six minutes later for Tijani Reijnders to score his second of the game after another ‘Nigerian’ Noah Okafor had provided the Netherland central midfielder to put AC Milan back in front 10 minutes earlier after Kyriani Sabbe restored parity on 51 minutes after the Rossonnerri took a 34th minute lead via Christian Pulisic.
Chukwueze showed an abundance of skill and pace to surge along the right, enter the penalty area and set up the midfielder, who slotted in as coolly as he did for Milan’s second.
It was Chukwueze’s first Champions League assist in 15 appearances. He has scored four times in the competition, twice in nine games for Villarreal and twice in six games for AC Milan.
