Hellas Verona defender Armel Bella-Kotchap has praised striker Gift Orban’s performance, describing him as “exceptional” after his brace helped Verona secure a dramatic 2–1 Serie A victory over Fiorentina on Sunday. Orban scored both goals, including a stoppage-time winner, to clinch the away triumph in Florence.
Orban came off the bench in the 35th minute after a teammate’s injury and opened the scoring shortly before halftime. Despite a Fiorentina own goal drawing the hosts level, the Nigerian forward netted the decisive goal deep into added time to seal the win for his side at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.
After the match, Bella-Kotchap who helped anchor the defence heaped praise on Orban’s contribution, saying the forward was “exceptional, played a very important match and helped us win with his two goals.” He added that the entire team worked hard to secure the result and urged his teammates to maintain their performances.
The victory lifted Verona off the bottom of the Serie A table and provided a much-needed boost in their battle against relegation, with Orban now on four league goals this season.
Editorial
In football’s dense tapestry where results oscillate between expectation and surprise — Gift Orban’s performance for Hellas Verona was a vivid testament to the transformative power of belief. When a player comes off the bench and alters the course of a match, it isn’t merely about skill unlocked it is about timing, conviction and impact under pressure.
Armel Bella-Kotchap’s appraisal of Orban as “exceptional” carries weight, not just as a teammate’s compliment but as a recognition of influence in a struggling squad. Verona’s season has been defined by tight margins, defensive resilience, and fleeting attacking clarity. Into that narrative stepped Orban not as a mere contributor, but as a match-defining figure. The Nigerian forward’s brace, including a late winner deep into stoppage time, is less a statistical footnote and more a story of momentum reclaimed.
Football at the lower echelons of the table tests character. It demands belief against odds, consistency in adversity, and, above all, moments where individuals rise to elevate the collective. Orban’s intervention — seven minutes after entering and again in the final throes epitomised that alchemy. The goal that sealed the win was not just about technique it was about seizing the moment when his team needed it most.
Bella-Kotchap’s words reflect a truth often felt but seldom expressed that in the crucible of competition, performances of bravery and conviction are the ones that linger. Verona’s battle to stay clear of relegation is far from over, but nights like this — when belief meets brilliance can define a season. In Orban, they found that spark in his exceptional showing, they found a moment worth building on.
Did You Know?
- Gift Orban scored both of Verona’s goals in their 2–1 win over Fiorentina, including a late winner in stoppage time.
- Orban entered the match as a substitute in the 35th minute after an injury forced a change.
- His performance helped Verona move off the bottom of the Serie A table, giving them crucial breathing room in the relegation fight.
- Orban has now scored four league goals in 12 Serie A appearances this season for Verona.
- The victory at Fiorentina was Verona’s first away win at the Artemio Franchi since 2018, making the achievement particularly historic.
