Akor Adams rescues Sevilla with brace against Elche after Africa Cup of Nations return
Nigerian striker Akor Adams came off the bench to score twice and earn Sevilla a point against Elche, showcasing his importance to the struggling Andalusian side.
Sevilla’s super-sub Akor Adams returned from international duty to save his team’s bacon with a crucial double against Elche in a match that ended all square.
Adams to the Rescue
The Nigerian striker, fresh from representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, proved to be Sevilla’s knight in shining armour after coming off the bench in the second half. His brace helped the Andalusian outfit secure their first point of the campaign after initially falling behind.
What makes Adams’ performance even more remarkable is the rarity of such an impact from a Sevilla substitute. You’d have to go all the way back to December 2016 to find the last time a Sevilla bench player bagged a brace in La Liga - when Vicente Iborra notched a hat-trick against Celta Vigo. Proper throwback, that.
The Nigerian forward, who now has five goals to his name this season, was clearly chuffed with his contribution: “The team needed me and it’s good the coach gave me minutes to bring energy.”
Missed Opportunities
Despite Adams’ heroics, there was a sense that Sevilla could’ve nicked all three points on the day:
- Sevilla created numerous chances but lacked clinical finishing
- The team has now taken just a point after falling behind in matches this season
- Adams himself felt they “should have won” against what he acknowledged was “a good team”
Agoumé Calls for Killer Instinct
Midfielder Lucien Agoumé echoed similar sentiments in his post-match comments, highlighting Sevilla’s need to be more ruthless at both ends of the pitch. The Frenchman didn’t mince his words about the team’s current struggles:
“We need to be more lethal in both areas - in our own box, defending with more aggression and reading the game better; and in attack, showing more conviction each time we go forward.”
It’s clear that despite stopping the rot with this draw, Sevilla’s season remains a bit Pete Tong. They’re creating chances but struggling to convert them, while opponents seem to find the net without breaking much of a sweat.
For Adams, though, the focus remains on the collective rather than individual glory: “The most important thing is the team. I’ve watched all the games while I’ve been away, and these weren’t the results we wanted.”