Ghanaian international Mohammed Salisu played a pivotal role on Wednesday night, scoring a crucial goal to help AS Monaco secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Dinamo Zagreb in a thrilling UEFA Champions League encounter.
The Black Stars defender was named in the starting lineup for Monaco, and despite challenging weather conditions, with heavy rain affecting play, Salisu’s resilience shone through in a tough clash against the Croatian giants.
Dinamo Zagreb took control of the game late in the first half, breaking the deadlock in the 44th minute when Petar Sucic, assisted by Martin Baturina, netted the opener.
The conditions made it difficult for both sides, but Dinamo Zagreb’s perseverance paid off as they carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.
After the break, Monaco came out with renewed energy, pressing high in search of an equalizer. However, Dinamo Zagreb doubled their lead in the 66th minute, once again capitalizing on a moment of brilliance from Martin Baturina.
Undeterred, Monaco fought back, and in the 76th minute, Mohammed Salisu rose above the Zagreb defense to head home a crucial goal, reducing the deficit and igniting hopes of a comeback.
The French side kept pushing, and in the dying minutes of the game, captain Dennis Zakaria held his nerve to convert a penalty, ensuring Monaco walked away with a vital point from the 2-2 draw.
Salisu’s commanding presence in defense, coupled with his goal-scoring contribution, made him one of the standout performers of the night as he played the full 90 minutes in what was a dramatic and entertaining Champions League showdown.