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Soccer News of Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Source: Prince Dornu-Leiku / 90 MINUTES

Porto star Christian Atsu wows ESPN crew

Hot prospect Christian Atsu is not wowing just Ghanaians with his football wizardry, he is nowdazzling international pundits following his exploits in the UEFA Champions’ League for Porto. FC Porto fans apparently are quickly forgetting Brazilian forward, Hulk who departed for Zenit because Atsu has so easily stepped into the fray with his dazzling skills. The Ghanaian youngster has been quick off the mark for Porto, not only in the Portuguese league, but in the biggest club football tournament in the world as well.

First, the 20 year old came off the bench to provide the assist for Steven Defour to strike an injury time winner for Porto away to Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions’ league group game.

And last week as Porto hosted big spending French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint Germain (PSG) on match day two, Atsu was at it again, overshadowing all including PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Ezekiel Lavezzi et al despite just coming on in the 73rd minute in Porto’s lone goal victory.

Atsu was so fantastic, UEFA pundits referred to him as “lively substitute Christian Atsu” in their match report. But apparently very impressed were some of the biggest football pundits and analysts in the world on ESPN’s renowned FC Presspass TV show.

Italian journalist Gabrielle Marcotti who is also a columnist for London based The Times newspaper, wasted no time at all in heaping praises on Ghanaian show master. “Atsu was fantastic in the second half. A star for the future,” Marcotti said. Poland born former US defender Janusz Michallik who added: “Yes Gab is right, Atsu was fantastic,” before making his own assertions on the game.

Not to be left out was the highly revered goal.com who rated every of the 22 starters and 6 substitutes who featured in the Group A clash.

“A terrific threat off the bench. His confidence was a joy to see as he attacked the right side of the PSG defence,” goal.com wrote on Christian Twasam Atsu.