Paul Onuachu’s lead at the top of the Süper Lig scorers’ chart has been cut to just two goals after failing to score in his last three matches, with Eldor Shomurodov closing in, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
- +Uzbekistan striker battles Onuachu for Super Lig Golden Boot
Onuachu has led the chart for much of the campaign despite spending several weeks with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Onuachu has led the chart for much of the campaign despite spending several weeks with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Upon his return, he scored in eight consecutive league games to strengthen his position, but his momentum has slowed due to a minor injury. He missed the Week 29 trip to Alanyaspor and has since drawn blanks against İstanbul Başakşehir, Konyaspor and Göztepe.
As a result, Shomurodov has emerged as his closest challenger, moving to 20 goals after scoring a brace to close the gap on the Nigerian.
Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca has also surged into contention with 19 goals for Fenerbahçe. He was boosted by a decisive hat-trick against Samsunspor at the weekend.
Onuachu is aiming to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who became the first Nigerian to win the Turkish league’s Golden Boot last season.
Momentum has now shifted, with Onuachu seeking to rediscover his scoring form while his rivals hit peak performance.
Shomurodov has been consistent, scoring regularly to remain within touching distance, while Talisca has timed his run well, delivering decisive contributions despite fewer minutes.
Elsewhere, Mauro Icardi (14 goals) and Osimhen (13) trail behind and are unlikely to challenge for the Golden Boot. However, both players could still celebrate a bigger prize, as a win for Galatasaray this weekend would secure a 26th league title.
For Onuachu, the focus will be on ending his goal drought when Trabzonspor face Beşiktaş, while Shomurodov’s side host Samsunspor.
