By Charles Ohizua
Nigerian striker, Odion Ighalo came off the bench to help Premiership debutants, Watford FC, secure a valuable point against Roberto Martínez’s Everton FC at the Goodison Park on Saturday.
Ighalo got his first goal in the English Premiership as Watford played a 2-2 draw against Everton at the Goodison Park.
The Nigerian replaced Jose Manuel Jurado in the 74th minutes of the game and made his impact felt nine minutes later after making a mess of the Toffees defence to put his side in the lead after Ross Barkley leveled Miguel Layun’s opener.
He shimmied inside to leave Jagielka and Chelsea target John Stones in his wake before finishing calmly.
But three minutes later, the Watford backline was undone, as Kone coolly slid a shot past Gomes on the angle to cap a thrilling first-day spectacle.
Ighalo’s goal was close to securing the full points for Watford with seven minutes from time before Ivorian forward, Arouna Kone, put the game all sqaure at 2-2.
Ighalo, who netted 20 goals last term in the English Championship with 36 attempts at goal to help Watford secure promotion to the English top flight, started on the bench as Quique Flores preferred a one-man attack of Troy Deeney supported by the Spaniard Jurado.
Ighalo was ecstatic after the match as he said: “I thank God for the goal and I am very happy to score on my EPL first game. I dedicate it to God because I have vowed to always give him the glory. And by God grace is one of the many goals to come,” Ighalo stated.
He added: “Well, the draw is okay against a good side like Everton but three points would have been better.”
Ighalo scored 20 goals last season in the English Championship to help Watford gain promotion to EPL.
