Ademola Lookman etched his name into Spanish football history on Saturday night, becoming only the second Nigerian player to score in a Copa del Rey final.
The 28-year-old forward struck in the 19th minute, finishing off an assist from Antoine Griezmann to bring Atletico Madrid level at 1-1 against Real Sociedad.
Read Also: Copa del Rey Final: Lookman makes history, but Atletico fall to Real Sociedad
Despite his historic contribution, it proved a bittersweet night as Atletico fell 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the Estadio de la Cartuja.
Atletico went into the break trailing 2-1 after conceding again before half-time, and although they fought back to force extra time, they were ultimately edged out in the shootout.
Lookman follows in the footsteps of Finidi George, who scored in the 1997 final for Real Betis against FC Barcelona.
The Nigerian forward has enjoyed a strong campaign, registering seven goals in 18 appearances across all competitions. Since arriving at Atletico in January, he has adapted seamlessly to Diego Simeone’s system, underlining his impact as one of the most effective mid-season signings in La Liga this season.
Notably, other Nigerian stars such as Emmanuel Amuneke and Samuel Chukwueze have featured in or won the competition, but neither scored in the final.
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