Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho made his highly anticipated debut for Middlesbrough in their Championship match against Sheffield United which unfortunately ended in a 3-1 defeat.
Middlesbrough were under immense pressure to secure a win, having lost five of their last six games in all competitions. In contrast, Sheffield United were brimming with confidence after winning five of their previous six matches.
Middlesbrough’s head coach, Michael Carrick, had expressed his confidence in Iheanacho’s goal-scoring abilities in his pre-match press conference, asserting that the Nigerian International was desperate to play. Carrick then handed Iheanacho a starting spot to lead the team’s attack, hoping that his presence would inspire a much-needed win.
Sheffield United made a strong start to the game, taking the lead in the 32nd minute through Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s well-taken goal. However, Middlesbrough were able to equalize just before halftime with Delano Burgzorg’s well-placed penalty.
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In the second half, both teams pushed for a winner, creating several scoring opportunities. However, Sheffield United regained their lead in the 75th minute with Ben Brereton Diaz’s goal before Anel Ahmedhodzic sealed the win with a clinical header in the 87th minute.
The victory propelled Sheffield United to 67 points from 32 matches, just two points behind league leaders Leeds United, who thrashed Watford 4-0 on Tuesday. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, dropped to ninth place with 44 points, three points from the promotion playoff spots.
Middlesbrough will aim to bounce back from the disappointing defeat when they host Watford in their next match. On the other hand, Sheffield United will seek to extend their winning streak when they face Luton, looking to maintain their momentum and push for promotion to the Premier League.
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