{
  "id": 16130212,
  "title": "Ndidi Scores First Goal of New Europa League Season, Dessers Fires Brace",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/ndidi-scores-first-goal-of-new-europa-league-season-dessers-fires",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-22T23:57:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/23/ndidi-scores-first-goal-of-new-europa-league-season-dessers-fires-brace/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi scored his first goal of the new Europa League season during Besiktas' four-goal thriller against Crystal Palace. The Turkish side secured a hard-fought point with Ndidi finding the net first for Besiktas, coasting past the Palace defense without any defenders tracking him. Referee VAR deemed Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal from the 55th minute offside, despite the French forward scoring brilliantly from an angle. Benin Republic's Junior Olaitan equalized the score in the 73rd minute, denying Palace a deserved victory.\n\nIn other Europa League news, Panathinaikos dominated their Europa Conference League match against Kairat Almaty, winning 5-1. Nigerian-born Cyril Dessers was instrumental in the Greek side's win, scoring twice - once from the penalty spot in the 24th minute and again in the 48th minute, completing a brace. Panathinaikos now leads the table with six points from two games.",
  "summary": "Super Eagles Captain, Wilfred Ndidi, scored his first goal this season against Crystal Palace last night as his Turkish side Besiktas earned a hard-fought point in an entertaining four-goal thriller.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}