Victor Olatunji fulfilled his dream on a remarkable night, delivering an unforgettable performance on his UEFA Champions League debut as Slavia Prague triumphed over Salzburg with a commanding 3-0 victory at the Stadion Letná in Prague on Wednesday.
The Nigerian attacker, who joined the Prague outfit this season, went into the game having not found the back of the net in his previous seven matches, determined to end his goal-scoring drought.
Filip Panák delivered a perfectly lofted ball over the Salzburg defense to Olatunji, who expertly finished from a tight angle, slotting it past goalkeeper Blaswich into the far corner to double Sparta Prague's lead in the 42nd minute.
Just two minutes before the hour mark, the 25-year-old shifted roles, turning provider as he set up Qazim Laci for the third goal, sealing the contest in style.
Victor Olatunji's goal and assist fulfill Champions League dream
In the aftermath of the game, Victor Olatunji, in an interview with UEFA.com, reflected on the moment and humbly shared his singular focus.
“I just wanted to put the ball in the back of the net. It was my only dream for tonight,” he said.
“For the third goal, I could have shot but I wanted to give us a bigger chance [of scoring], because missing that chance would not have been good for the team.”
His efforts were pivotal, as he not only scored but also provided an assist, marking a significant milestone. Olatunji became the first Nigerian player to achieve this feat on his Champions League debut, and only the third African player to score and assist on his UEFA Champions League debut.
He joins an exclusive group that includes Gabon's Daniel Cousin, who accomplished this with Rangers against Lyon in 2007, and Ivory Coast's Serge Aurier, who did so with PSG against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015.
Olatunji has now recorded five goal involvements in just seven appearances in the competition, qualifying rounds included.
