Black Stars defender Mohammed Salisu scored his first-ever Champions League goal on Wednesday night as Monaco fought to earn a thrilling draw against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
Monaco entered the match with high spirits after their victory over Barcelona in their opening game, while Zagreb was looking to bounce back from a heavy 9-2 defeat to Bayern Munich.
However, it was the hosts who took control early, setting the pace for the match. Their efforts paid off in first-half stoppage time when Petar Sucic deftly finished to give Zagreb the lead.
Martin Baturina doubled Zagreb’s advantage in the 66th minute, putting Monaco on the brink of defeat until Mohammed Salisu stepped up with a timely response.
Salisu made a crucial impact in the 74th minute, peeling away to the back post during a corner and heading the ball into the net, reducing the deficit and providing Monaco with a lifeline.
This goal, also Salisu’s first as a Monaco player, injected new confidence into the French side as the match approached its conclusion.
Monaco continued their push and were rewarded when Denis Zakaria converted a penalty to equalize, securing a point in Croatia.
Notably, Salisu’s strike marked his first club goal in three years, with his last goal coming on September 21, 2021, for Southampton in a Carabao Cup match against Sheffield United.
Additionally, this headed goal was his first competitive strike since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he scored for Ghana against South Korea.
Monaco will aim to return to winning form and maintain their unbeaten start in Ligue 1 when they face Rennes on Saturday.
