Super Eagles returnee, Ikechuchukwu Uche, fired blank on Sunday as his Villarreal outfit lost 1-3 to Valencia in a La Liga local derby.
Uche, who was called up for the Super Eagles African Cup of Nations qualifying ties against Congo and South Africa, could not turn the table against the visitors.
The Nigerian striker later gave way to Gerard Moreno, who came on as 71st minute substitute.
Villarreal dominated for large periods at El Madrigal but an early own goal from Manuel Trigueros put Valencia in front before a second-half brace from Germany centre-back, Shkodran Mustafi, took the game away from the Yellow Submarine.
Trigueros managed to pull one back late on to give the hosts a glimmer of hope, but despite charging forward in the final moments, they could not get any closer.
Valencia moved to within a point of Primera Division leaders Real Madrid with the victory at Villarreal.
It was Villarreal’s second successive loss after conceding two goals in the last two minutes to lose 1-2 at Sevilla last time out.
And it was another result that will really stick in their craw.