Extra-Time Kings: Super Eagles Stars Moses Usor and Akere Lead Dramatic Cup Victories in Austria and Poland
It was a night of unyielding drama and Nigerian brilliance across European cup football on Wednesday, October 28, as Super Eagles forward Moses Usor and young attacker Samuel Akere delivered extra-time masterclasses to inspire LASK Linz and Wisła Płock into the next rounds of their respective domestic cup competitions.
ÖFB Cup: Usor Sub Sparks Historic LASK Comeback in 9-Goal Thriller
In one of the most remarkable Austrian Cup encounters in recent memory, LASK Linz fought back from two goals down to eliminate SV Ried 5–4 after extra time at the Raiffeisen Arena.
SV Ried took complete command early on, with Ante-Yusuf Maart opening the scoring in the 36th minute before Isaac Kiese Thelin doubled the advantage shortly after half-time.
Although João Alemão halved the deficit for LASK in the 51st minute, Maart struck again in the 77th minute to make it 3–1, putting the visitors on the brink of a major shock.
LASK refused to surrender. Introduced off the bench in the 63rd minute for Alessandro Schöpf, 24-year-old Nigerian international Moses Usor helped fuel a late onslaught.
Robert Ljubičić pulled one back in the 85th minute before Xavier Mbuyamba scored a heroic equalizer in the 93rd minute to send the tie to extra time.
Usor then took center stage during the additional 30 minutes:
111th Minute: Usor smashed home a powerful strike to put LASK ahead for the first time on the night.
120th Minute: Usor turned provider, setting up Samuel Adeniran to make it 5–3 with his 9th goal of the season.
Despite a 122nd-minute response from Ried’s Philipp Pomer, LASK held firm to seal a 5–4 triumph and book their place in the ÖFB Cup quarter-finals.
Usor’s Soaring Campaign
The performance continues a fine 2026/27 season for Usor, taking his tally to 5 goals across all competitions (2 in the Austrian Bundesliga, 1 in the ÖFB Cup, 1 in UCL Qualifiers, and 1 in the UCL Main Stage).
His domestic form earned him his senior Nigeria debut under head coach Eric Chelle on September 24, where he marked the occasion by scoring the winner against Madagascar in Uyo.
LASK now turn their attention back to the Austrian Bundesliga, where they host Tirol on Saturday.
Polish FA Cup: Akere Strikes Late to Send Wisła Płock Through
Over in Poland, 22-year-old Nigerian winger Samuel Akere proved to be the difference-maker as Wisła Płock secured a hard-fought 2–1 extra-time victory over Puszcza Niepołomice in the Puchar Polski Round of 32.
29′ (0–1): Said Hamulic broke the deadlock for Wisła Płock with a precise finish to give the visitors a lead at the break.
83′ (1–1): Puszcza Niepołomice mounted a late fightback, with Bartosz Kurzeja leveling the score late in normal time to force extra time.
Extra Time (1–2): With a penalty shootout looming at Stadion Miejski w Niepołomicach, Akere rose to the occasion, producing a moment of quality in extra time to score the decisive winner and eliminate the hosts.
The match-winning goal brings Akere’s tally to 2 goals in 6 appearances this season. The former Nigerian youth international previously scored in a 3–1 Ekstraklasa win over Cracovia on September 13.
After four games without a goal contribution, Akere’s timely strike keeps Wisła Płock’s campaign for domestic silverware alive as they advance to the Polish FA Cup last 16.
