Gift Orban delivered an exceptional performance, scoring a brace in Lyon's victory over Strasbourg at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Saturday.
The Nigeria international was introduced in the 59th minute, replacing Abner Vinicius with his side trailing 3-1 to the visitors. Orban's brace, along with Ainsley Maitland-Niles' contribution, ensured Pierre Sage's side overturned the deficit to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory.
Saturday's match marked Orban's first Ligue 1 appearance of the season, having missed Lyon's opening two fixtures against Rennes and Monaco.
Not only did Orban's goal earn Lyon all three points, but it also secured their first victory of the season after suffering defeats in their previous two matches.
The 23-year-old has frequently been the subject of ridicule since his arrival at the club and was widely expected to leave during the summer transfer window.
Orban’s impactful return: ‘It’s not just about one game, but the road ahead'
In the aftermath of the game, Orban in an interview as relayed by olympique-et-lyonnais reflected on his performance.
“It's been a long time since I scored, so it feels good. The victory was important for the team, we needed it after the two previous defeats because it was difficult for us and the staff,” he said.
He added, “My celebration wasn't revenge, but when you're a footballer, there's a lot of criticism. I work hard, I like to score and that's my goal every day.”
Orban also acknowledged the ongoing challenges of the season, stating, “It’s going well, but you know, there are a lot of matches to play between the Europa League, Ligue 1… You can't be happy after just one game.”
Praising his captain, Alexandre Lacazette, he noted, “He is an exemplary captain… He has experience, so I watch him in training and he talks to me to advise me so that I can give the best of myself.”
Orban was brought into the Lyon setup at the beginning of last season following some impressive performances for the Belgian club Gent, where he scored 18 goals in 33 appearances last season.
Orban made 13 Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon during the 2023/24 season, starting five matches and scoring one goal.
