Moroccan international, Osame Sahraoui, was named Player of the Match after a stellar performance in Lille’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Sturm Graz in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening.
The forward opened the scoring and played a pivotal role in a crucial win that keeps Lille firmly in the race for the knockout stages.
Sahraoui broke the deadlock with a composed finish into the far corner, capping off a swift and incisive run into the box. His early strike set the tone for Lille, who doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time through Mitchel Bakker’s clever effort.
Despite Lille’s dominant start, the visitors fought back, with Otar Kiteishvili pulling one back just before the break with a stunning strike from a tight angle.
The momentum shifted in the second half as Sturm Graz levelled the score early. William Bøving’s precise low cross found Kiteishvili, who slotted home his second goal to make it 2-2. The match became a tense affair, with both sides creating chances. Lille’s Alexsandro Ribeiro and Jonathan David came close, while Sturm’s Kiteishvili narrowly missed completing a hat-trick.
The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when substitute Hákon Haraldsson, on the pitch for less than a minute, unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner, sealing the victory for Lille. Sahraoui’s relentless energy and creativity throughout the match earned him the Player of the Match accolade, underscoring his importance to Lille’s campaign.
The win lifts Lille within one point of the top eight in the league phase standings, while Sturm Graz’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages are effectively over after another heartbreaking defeat.
