Two minutes. That was all Tolu Arokodare needed to turn a tense European night into an absolute masterclass for the Dutch giants.
If you ever doubted what the Super Eagles striker could bring to De Godenzonen, Thursday night provided the ultimate answer.
Introduced in the 72nd minute for Marcos Leonardo, the Nigerian international made an immediate impact by scoring with his very first touch just two minutes after entering the fray.
His clinical header put The Sons of the Gods back in front after FC Sion had threatened to spoil the party at the Stade de Tourbillon.
The hosts had taken a 1–0 lead into the break courtesy of Franck Surdez, leaving the visitors in desperate need of a spark. Whatever Francesco Farioli said at halftime clearly struck a chord.
Julian Brandt restored parity with a breathtaking long-range effort in the 53rd minute before Marcos Leonardo headed the Eredivisie side ahead.
Yet, when Ilyas Chouaref converted a 72nd-minute penalty to make it 2–2, the match hung dangerously in the balance.
That was the exact moment Arokodare took complete control. Following his instant goal, the 25-year-old turned provider in the 87th minute, showing exceptional vision to setup Davy Klaassen for a cool finish that wrapped up a thrilling 4–2 away triumph.
Despite registering just 70 minutes across four substitute appearances since joining the club, the Nigerian forward now boasts one goal and two assists in his brief stint.
His man-of-the-match cameo ensures the Dutch side returns to Amsterdam with a commanding two-goal cushion ahead of next week’s second leg at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
