From Owerri to scoring in LaLiga in two years: Uche rescues Getafe from defeat against Bilbao

Getafe and Athletic Bilbao opened the LaLiga season in Spain with a 1-1 draw at the San Mamés stadium, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Bilbao took the lead in the 27th minute when Oihan Sancet fired a low shot from the edge of the area. The Bilbao side maintained their lead at half-time.

Four minutes into the hour, relatively unknown Nigerian midfielder Uche Chrisantus, who was surprisingly positioned higher up the pitch in an attacking role, equalised for Getafe.

He leapt on top of a free-kick to score a precise header and make his debut in the Spanish top flight with a goal. He joined the team in the summer from third division side Cueta.

The 20-year-old was part of Nigeria’s under-23 squad last year while playing for Moralo in Spain’s fifth division. Third-tier side Cueta signed him after one season there with the intention of integrating him into their youth team, but he surprised everyone and was immediately named part of the first team by coach Jose Juan Romero.

He played in all but two of last season’s matches, making a total of 22 appearances out of a possible 24. One of the matches he missed was due to technical problems, while the other was due to serving a suspension for accumulation of cautions. He played 90 minutes in all of last season’s matches.

Uche left the Nigerian city of Owerri just two years ago to begin his career abroad, making his rise to Spain’s top flight from the fifth tier all the more surprising, but also a testament to his ability, which is aided by his physique in addition to other attributes.

Mohamed Mowiz Suleiman