Super Eagles full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel excelled for José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe in their UEFA Champions League qualifier against Swiss side Lugano on Tuesday night.
There has been much speculation about Osayi-Samuel’s future at the end of the season. However, upon his arrival, Mourinho decided he wanted the defender to stay.
The Nigeria international responded with an outstanding performance in the Portuguese manager's first official game in charge, playing 68 minutes as the Turkish side secured a thrilling 4-3 victory in Thun.
Bright Osayi-Samuel influential in Thun barnstormer
Hosts, Lugano opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Ayman El Wafi. However, Fenerbahçe equalised in the dying moments of the first half, with Edin Džeko converting a penalty.
Immediately after the break, Džeko completed his brace, putting Fenerbahçe ahead. Lugano responded in the 64th minute, with Uran Bislimin levelling the score.
Just three minutes later, Džeko secured his hat-trick, restoring Fenerbahçe’s lead and, in the 74th minute, Ferdi Kadıoğlu netted Fenerbahçe’s fourth goal.
Despite this, they couldn't maintain the two-goal lead, as Lugano scored their third in the final moments, ending the match at 4-3.
This match marked Mourinho’s first official victory as the coach of Fenerbahçe, and while Edin Džeko was the star on the night with his hat-trick, the victory owed much of their offensive output to their rght flank, whence Osayi-Samuel held sway.
The return leg is scheduled for 30 July at the Ülker Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. With a narrow lead, Fenerbahçe will aim to secure their place in the next round of the UEFA Champions League.
