Super Falcons midfielder Christy Ucheibe endured a difficult night as Benfica Women fell 3–1 to Barcelona Femení in their UEFA Women’s Champions League group-stage clash at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Wednesday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Benfica arrived in Spain searching for their first win of the campaign, but the former European champions were determined to maintain their position at the summit of the group standings.
Barcelona took the lead on 29 minutes through Ewa Pajor, but Benfica responded strongly after the interval, with Chandra Davidson equalising just two minutes into the second half.
However, the turning point came in the 54th minute. A sharp combination inside the box between Alexia Putellas and Pajor forced Ucheibe, deployed as an emergency centre-back, into a desperate challenge that resulted in her inadvertently turning the ball into her own net.
Barcelona immediately pressed their advantage, extending the lead to 3–1 through Laia Aleixandri five minutes later.
Putellas could have made it 4–1 from the penalty spot, but her low left-footed effort was brilliantly saved by Lena Pauels.
The win secures Barcelona’s place at the top of the group with 13 points, while Benfica slip out of the playoff spots.
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Champions League: Babajide, Onyedika, Furo and Tella in action
In London, Rinsola Babajide suffered a bruising night as AS Roma were dismantled 6–0 by a ruthless Chelsea side.
The Super Falcons winger started the match and featured for 63 minutes, by which time Chelsea had already raced into a 4–0 lead. Late goals from Maika Hamano and Lucy Bronze sealed a commanding victory for the Blues.
In Belgium, Raphael Onyedika played 74 minutes but could not prevent Club Brugge from falling 3–0 at home to Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League.
The Nigerian midfielder completed 91% of his passes and registered a key pass before making way for Hugo Vetlesen. Arsenal’s win came courtesy of a brace from Noni Madueke and a cool finish from Gabriel Martinelli.
There was, however, a bright spot for Brugge.
Kaye Furo, son of former Super Eagles defender Iyenemi Furo, made his Champions League debut, coming on in the 67th minute and forcing David Raya into a save. The 18-year-old, who already has a league goal this season, continues to draw attention for his rapid progress.
Elsewhere in Germany, Nathan Tella came off the bench as Bayer Leverkusen fought back to earn a 2–2 draw against high-flying Newcastle United.
Tella entered the match in the 71st minute, shortly before Lewis Miley put Newcastle ahead, but an 88th-minute strike from Álex Grimaldo secured a point for the Bundesliga giants.