Kiyoshi Ueda Scores Again in Champions League! Lille Lose 2-3 to Betis but He Shines

Speaking of Kiyoshi Ueda, fans familiar with Japanese football are certainly not unfamiliar with him. This summer, he transferred from Eredivisie side Feyenoord to Lille, and many were waiting to see whether an Asian striker could adapt to Ligue 1's pace and establish himself in a top Western European league. The answer came quickly: he did not give people time to wonder, instead letting his goals do the talking.

In Ligue 1's third round against Strasbourg, Ueda came off the bench and scored a winning goal, netting in his Lille debut. Many fans thought at the time that this young player had something special. Few expected that only a few matches later, he would already shine on the Champions League stage.

In this Champions League clash, Ueda was immediately placed in the starting lineup as the lone striker, even leaving French legend Olivier Giroud on the bench. This tactical choice itself was very telling, showing the coaching staff's trust in him. In the 12th minute, 19-year-old Ethan Mbappe, the younger brother of Kylian Mbappe, delivered a quality cross from the right side.

Ueda cleverly escaped his marker and, with no defender tracking him at the far side, scored the opener with a precise header. The goal showed excellent tactical execution, with his movement, timing of his jump, and heading quality all on point. After scoring, he immediately pointed toward Ethan Mbappe to thank him before performing his trademark prayer celebration, sending the entire Stade Pierre-Mauroy into celebration.

The first half was full of twists and turns. In the 33rd minute, Betis equalized through Bartra's header from a corner kick. Just three minutes later, Lille used another corner opportunity, with Alexsandro heading in to regain the lead. Lille went into halftime ahead 2-1, having the advantage in play and momentum.

However, the second half changed dramatically. In the 49th minute, Bartra again took advantage of a set-piece opportunity to score a header and level the match, as if a curse had come true. In the 53rd minute, Parrott scored and Betis took the lead. The rhythm of the game suddenly changed, and Lille completely lost control.

More damagingly, Ethan Mbappe, who assisted Ueda's goal, was shown a direct red card by the referee in the 56th minute for an elbow incident. Lille were forced to play with one fewer player and the entire team faced a difficult battle. In the 77th minute, Ueda was replaced by Giroud, and Lille could not change the score, eventually losing 2-3 to Real Betis in their Champions League home opener.

Although the team lost, Ueda's individual form has been remarkably impressive. After joining Lille, he has scored in two consecutive competitive matches, and including his time at Feyenoord, he has now scored in five consecutive competitive appearances. This shows that he has not only quickly adapted to Ligue 1's pace but has also proven himself directly on the Champions League stage.

His performance quickly sparked reactions on overseas social media, with many fans leaving praise: "Ueda Kiyoshi is simply too strong!" "His movement to get away from defenders was perfect." "A winning goal on debut and another Champions League goal, his adaptation to a new team is incredible." Many Japanese fans joked that they wake up every day to see Ueda score, saying his form is simply unbelievable.

To be fair, these comments are impressive. Few Asian forwards manage to establish themselves in Europe's top leagues, and even fewer can continue shining in the Champions League. Ueda has answered all doubters in just a few matches; his movement awareness, finishing instincts, and physical battles are no worse than those of any European striker.

Of course, the defeat was disappointing. Lille faced Betis at home and had the early advantage but ultimately suffered a loss. Without the red-card incident involving the elbow, the course of the match might have been completely different. But from another perspective, a team's success or failure can never be changed by one player alone, and Ueda has already done enough.

His next match will be Ligue 1's fourth-round fixture against Troyes, kicking off at 21:00 Beijing time on September 13. If everything goes well, fans may witness him score in three consecutive competitive matches since joining Lille. By then, it remains to be seen how many opposing defenses will have to worry about this Japanese striker.

Lille fans are probably feeling fortunate that this summer's transfer has turned out to be a great acquisition. And Ueda Kiyoshi's story is only just beginning.