Nigerian Messi Bags Brace As Liverpool Thrash MTK Budapest In Friendly

Ibadan-born Netherlands youth international Bobby Adekanye bagged a brace for Liverpool U23s in their 5-2 rout of MTK Budapest II in a pre-season friendly staged at Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The winger, who has been dubbed the Nigerian Messi in his homeland, came off the bench in the 46th minute, and made an immediate impact by putting Liverpool 4-2 up seconds after his introduction.

In the 66th minute, Adekanye added more gloss to the scoreline with a fifth goal for The Reds after cutting inside from the left wing.

The visitors were leading 3-1 at the end of the first half courtesy of goals from Toni Gomes, Jordan Williams and Nathaniel Phillips.

Former England skipper Steven Gerrard was among the spectators at Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium, his U18 side are also in Hungary for pre-season training.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel