Super Eagles forward Gift Orban opened his account for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in their thrilling 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
The 22-year-old forward, who joined the German club this transfer window from French side Lyon, made an instant impact in the encounter.
Hoffenheim, currently battling relegation, played in front of their home crowd but found themselves trailing in the 28th minute after Hugo Ekitike converted a penalty for the visitors.
The hosts thought they had equalized when Adam Hlozek found the net, but VAR ruled the effort offside, much to the disappointment of the home fans.
Orban came off the bench in the 63rd minute and wasted no time making his presence felt.
Just two minutes after his introduction, the Nigerian striker latched onto a precise cross from Hlozek to tap in the equalizer.
However, Ekitike restored Frankfurt’s lead in the 71st minute with his second goal of the game.
Hoffenheim fought back, and their persistence paid off in stoppage time, when Hlozek redeemed himself with a late equalizer to secure a crucial point for the struggling side.
With 19 matches played, Hoffenheim remains just above the relegation zone, sitting in 15th place with 18 points.
Gift Orban’s Performance Analysis
Orban will take confidence from scoring his first Bundesliga goal, but his overall contribution against Frankfurt was limited.
In 27 minutes on the pitch, the Nigerian managed just six touches and recorded one shot on target, which resulted in his goal.
He attempted two passes, completing one for a 50% success rate, and delivered one cross. However, Orban struggled in duels, failing to win his only aerial contest and two ground duels.
Despite these challenges, his ability to convert a key chance highlights his potential to become a crucial player for Hoffenheim in their fight to stay in the Bundesliga.
Orban’s goal-scoring instinct could prove vital for Hoffenheim as the season progresses.
