Nigerian forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, is thrilled to have opened his goal account with LaLiga side Sevilla.
Iheanacho made an immediate impact for Sevilla, scoring twice in their dominant 3-0 victory over Las Rozas CF in the opening round of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday at Estadio Navalcarbón.
The 28-year-old Nigerian striker, handed his Copa del Rey debut by Sevilla’s head coach, García Pimienta, seized the opportunity, playing a decisive role to ensure Sevilla’s progression into the tournament’s second round.
The win began with a stroke of fortune when Las Rozas’ Luis Méndez inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, gifting Sevilla an early advantage. Iheanacho then doubled the lead on the hour mark, pouncing on a clever assist from Juan Sánchez to score his first goal in a Sevilla shirt.
Later, in the 79th minute, Iheanacho struck again, displaying sharp instincts as he capitalized on a deflected shot from Gerard Fernández to seal the victory.
This performance marks another memorable cup debut for Iheanacho, who has a habit of finding the net in domestic cup openers.
In England, he scored in his first FA Cup and League Cup appearances with Manchester City and found the back of the net for Leicester City in his first Community Shield match in August 2021.
By continuing this impressive streak with Sevilla, he’s already showing his potential as a valuable asset to the Spanish side.
Reflecting on his performance, Iheanacho shared his excitement in a statement provided by Sevilla’s media team, saying, “I’m very happy to score my first goals for this club.
“Obviously, I haven’t had many opportunities, but I got one now, and I showed what I can do by scoring two goals, so I am very happy.Thanks to the fans for their support, and to my teammates and coaches for helping me as well.”
Wearing the number 9 jersey, Iheanacho voiced his hopes for more goals in the season ahead and expressed his ambitions for Sevilla in the La Liga standings.
“Hopefully, there are more goals to come, and hopefully, Sevilla will be in the top six of LALIGA by the end of the season.”
Looking ahead, Iheanacho has set his sights on Sevilla’s upcoming La Liga clash against Real Sociedad at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium on Sunday, November 3.
Eager to perform in front of Sevilla’s passionate supporters, he added, “I will be really happy to play in our stadium again. We have amazing fans, and they always support the team no matter what. Hopefully, I get a chance to play there, and hopefully, they will come out, support the team, and we win the game.”
Iheanacho’s electric debut in the Copa del Rey suggests he’s ready to make his mark in Spain, with Sevilla fans hopeful his goalscoring prowess will continue in their push for a strong La Liga finish.
