NIGERIAN striker David Okereke scored a superb winning goal on Sunday in Venezia’s comeback Serie A victory over Roma.
Venezia won the contest 3-2, coming from 2-1 down at half-time.
Mattias Caldara got hosts Venezia off to a great start, scoring the opening goal after just three minutes.
Roma were stung into action and they bombarded the Serie A newcomers’ defence incessantly until the equaliser arrived.
Eldor Shomurodov got Roma level with two minutes left in the first half, but the visitors were not done.
With virtually the last kick of the half, Tammy Abraham, the England international striker born to Nigerian parents, shot Roma into the lead, two minutes into added time.
Mattia Aramu then got Venezia back level from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.
Okereke rounded off the scoring and bagged the winner in the 74th minute, latching on to a long ball from Ethan Ampadu and placing it beyond the stretched body of Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
It was the 24-year-old Nigerian’s third goal of the season in 10 games as Venezia claimed a big scalp and their third win of the Serie A campaign.
Okereke’s compatriot, Super Eagles right-back Tyron Ebuehi, was brought on in the 76th minute to replace Pasquale Mazzocchi as Venezia shut up shop.
Okereke himself was taken off in the 89th minute and replaced by French forward Thomas Henry.
Venezia went up to 15th spot in the Serie A table with 12 points from 12 games after the crucial win, while Roma dropped to fifth place with 19 points.
