Patson On Target in Europe Again, Mwepu Draws Toure Comparisons
Chipolopolo striker Patson Daka carried on his rich vein of goal-scoring form in the Europa League with a well-taken goal against Legia Warsaw.
The Leicester City ace started for the Foxes in their must win group game on Thursday night and rewarded the club’s faith in him by opening the scoring in the 11th minute with an excellent turn-and-finish from just inside the box.
Daka has yet to be given a run of starts in the league for Leicester, but staked his claim on the European stage once more, showing great strength and composure to shrug off an opposing defender and rifle a left footed strike into the far corner of the goal.
The goal takes the Zambian international’s tally to five goals in five Europa League games, and six in 12 appearances in all competitions. It is fair to say Patson is really starting to show why the Premier League club paid over $30 million dollars for his services back in July.
Daka opening the scoring put Leicester in control of the game, and they went on to comfortably win 3-1, with further first half goals from James Maddison and Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi. Leicester now top their group with one match left to play.
Meanwhile, Enock Mwepu spoke to BBC Focus on Africa TV on his wonder goal against Liverpool last month.
The Chipolopolo midfielder scored a 25-yard screamer against the two-time European champions at Anfield to earn his Brighton side a credible draw, and said this is just the beginning from him in the Premier League.
23-year-old Mwepu says he grew up watching former Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure, and hopes he one day will be able to emulate the achievements of the man he calls his “African Idol.”
The Zambia international says the inspiration behind the shot came from studying footage of Toure, who won three Premier League titles with Manchester City across an eight-year spell.
"I think I scored that goal on the bus when we were going to the stadium," Mwepu, nicknamed ‘The Computer’ by teammates for his excellent footballing brain, told the BBC.
"I was watching Yaya Toure's highlights on YouTube. He has actually been my inspiration. So when I saw his goals, I was like 'whenever I get a chance like this, I will try to strike it'.
"Thank God it went in. It was unbelievable. It was really brilliant for me getting a goal at Anfield."
Mwepu, a childhood Liverpool fan, added that fellow midfielder and legendary Reds captain Steven Gerrard was another idol of his growing up, but his continental affinity to Toure runs deeper.
“Yaya Toure has been my African idol that I have looked up to. So many people have actually compared me to him, so I watch him and most of his goals and I try to do what he used to do.
"I just look forward to score more goals in the Premier League and live my dream."