TEESSIDE, England – Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho don score im first goal for Middlesbrough, help dem secure 2-1 victory over Oxford United on March 30, 2025. Dis win don boost Teesside fans hope for di Sky Bet Championship play-off place, PUNCH Sports Extra report.
Di 28-year-old Nigerian forward show strong performance as he find di net just three minutes into di second half, after Michal Helik don open di scoring for Oxford. Iheanacho finish di ball confidently and powerfully after he pounce on Samuel Iling-Junior’s brilliant cross from di left, wey miss by Ciaron Brown.
Dis goal mark Iheanacho’s first league strike in almost 18 months, as he don dey face serious goal drought since he left Leicester City last summer. Di striker struggle to find form during im time for both Sevilla and Middlesbrough, and he go seven league games without scoring since he join di club on loan from di Spanish side in January.
As he score, di relief for Iheanacho clear as he celebrate with im teammates, wey encourage am to embrace di moment after he finally find di back of di net. Before di break, he nearly score when he hit di crossbar after he delicately lift di ball over goalkeeper Jamie Cumming.
Di equalizer boost Iheanacho’s confidence, making im more influential for di game. E later assist substitute Morgan Whittaker down di right flank, wey cross di ball to di back post for Tommy Conway to head towards di goal, forcing Cumming into action with a save.
Middlesbrough eventually complete dia comeback with 10 minutes left as Brazilian defender Neto Borges score im first goal for di club. Di stylish winner come after Iling-Junior, wey perform excellently down di left, combine with Aidan Morris before delivering low cross wey Borges finish brilliantly beyond Cumming.
Dis victory na important milestone for Middlesbrough, as dem don win three home league games back-to-back for di first time since October 2023. Dem now level on points with sixth-placed West Brom, with seven matches remaining for di season, while Coventry dey two points ahead.
For Iheanacho, fans dey hope say dis opening goal go mark di beginning of a productive spell for di Super Eagles star, as Middlesbrough dey push for strong finish in dia Championship play-off campaign.
