Obafemi Martins

Birthday boy, Obafemi Martins got two goals in Levante’s 3-1 defeat of Granada Sunday as  the out of favour Super Eagles forward marked his anniversary with the third and fourth strikes of the La Liga encounter.

The brace from their Nigerian import has helped Levante move up to fifth place on 16 points.

Martins, who clocked 28 Sunday, opened scoring on 12 minutes to give the hosts the lead inside the Estadi Ciutat de València to calm the nerves of his manager, Juan Ignacio Martinez.

The rest of the half was quiet but Martins again made the difference on 61 minutes to double the lead and score his first brace in Spain.

The Granotes scored their third goal through Pedro Rios on 73 minutes but the visitors got one back via Youssef El Arabi in the 85th min courtesy of an assist by Nigerian Odion Ighalo.

Martins has now scored four goals since moving to Spain where he seems to be enjoying a rejuvenated career after his adventure with Rubin Khazan almost ruined him. The striker has been invited to be a part of the Super Eagles that will play against Venezuela in a friendly international in Miami next month.