Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala scored against her former club, FC Barcelona, in a thrilling friendly match at PayPal Park on Tuesday night.
Despite her efforts, Bay FC succumbed to a 5-2 defeat against the reigning UEFA Champions League winners.
The match, attended by 14,187 fans, showcased top-notch football from both sides, with 21 different players featuring for Bay FC.
Oshoala, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers, made headlines by scoring the opening goal for Bay FC.
The 29-year-old forward, who spent five successful years at Barcelona, intercepted a pass from the Barcelona goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net in the 17th minute.
This goal not only gave Bay FC an early lead but also highlighted Oshoala’s enduring quality on the field.
“I felt a mixture of emotions scoring against Barcelona,” Oshoala said after the match. “They are like family to me, but I’m always focused on giving my best for my team, and today, that meant scoring against them.”
FC Barcelona, known for their resilience and skill, quickly equalized four minutes later through Kika Nazareth.
The Portuguese forward, who has been in fine form this season, struck from the edge of the box, finding the back of the net with a precise shot that left Bay FC’s goalkeeper with no chance.
Despite Bay FC’s efforts to regain the lead through Racheal Kundananji in the 32nd minute, Barcelona responded swiftly.
Caroline Graham Hansen, one of Barcelona’s standout players, tied the match again with a powerful shot from a tight angle near the right post.
The second half saw a flurry of changes from both teams, with Bay FC making eight substitutions.
The match remained deadlocked at 2-2 until the 68th minute when Barcelona’s Mapi León curled a corner kick directly into the goal, giving the visitors their first lead of the night.
Bay FC fought hard to get back into the game, with goalkeeper Emmie Allen making two crucial saves in the 63rd minute.
However, Barcelona’s attacking prowess proved too much to handle as they added two more goals in stoppage time.
Claudia Pina and Patri Guijarro sealed the victory with long-distance strikes, leaving Bay FC with no time to recover.
During her time at Barcelona, Oshoala won numerous titles, including the UEFA Women’s Champions League, where she was instrumental in their 2021 victory.
