Ifeanyi Ndukwe gave a goal away in a chaotic La Liga game between Levante and Sevilla only for the young Liverpool center-back to score a dramatic equalizer deep into stoppage time
Ifeanyi Ndukwe in action for Levante against Sevilla.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe in action for Levante against Sevilla.(Image: Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Liverpool defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe scored a 100th-minute equalizer for Levante in a remarkable La Liga game against Sevilla on Monday.
Ndukwe had gifted Sevilla the opening goal of the game with a major mistake, getting a pass wrong that saw Robbie Ure round the goalkeeper and find the back of the net. But he made amends later in a chaotic and drama-filled encounter.
The score was 2-1 to Sevilla heading into second-half stoppage time when Adrian De La Fuente leveled. Issa Romero — who was then sent off for excessive celebration — almost immediately scored what he thought was the winner for the visitor, only for Ndukwe to poke home at the death.
Ndukwe, 18, was making his first start for Levante since signing on loan from Liverpool in the summer. He had previously come off the bench against Barcelona and Villarreal.
Brought in from Austria Vienna, the teenager impressed under Andoni Iraola during pre-season, but it was decided that his best next step would be in Spain.
He was unable to remain at Anfield because he didn't qualify for a work permit, though there is a clause in the deal that means he could return to Liverpool in January.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe is on loan with Levante.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe is on loan with Levante.(Image: Francis González/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk labeled Ndukwe a "big talent" after playing alongside him in the first half against AS Monaco in a pre-season friendly before the season started.
"Obviously, I saw the games in pre-season in America," Van Dijk added. "Big talent, big guy and he wants to learn.
"I had a brief conversation with him, especially in the last couple of days. For him, it is just progressing. I know he has to go on loan I think so let's see where he ends up.
"The matter of fact is that he has to go on loan and wherever he goes, he needs to learn, get better and be ready when he comes back to hopefully stay there."
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Ndukwe is not the only Liverpool player on loan in La Liga this term. Harvey Elliott is with Valencia, and he came off the bench again over the weekend as Los Che drew 2-2 with Racing Santander.
Elliott spent the international break working on his fitness, having missed almost the entirety of last season because Unai Emery decided that he didn't want to sign him permanently for Aston Villa.
Liverpool has focused a lot of spending on young center-backs in recent times. As well as Ndukwe, Mor Talla Ndiaye arrived from the Senegalese outfit Amitie FC, and Jeremy Jacquet has made the seamless transition from Ligue 1 after an $83 million (£60 million) move.