Ismaël Koné is only twenty years old, but he seems tailor-made for the big moments. His first career goal came in the Champions League and on Sunday night he netted the game-winning goal against Orlando on his first-ever career playoff goal.
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“I never scored at Stade Saputo, revealed Koné after the game. I had scored at the Olympic Stadium in the Champions League and my other goals were away.
It was also a special evening for the young man since it was a first night for his mother.
“It was my mother’s first game at Stade Saputo. Every time she came, I scored. I think I’m going to tell him to come to all the playoff games.”
Touch the dream
It’s easy to get attached to Koné who is both sympathetic and unfiltered.
He mentioned that this goal gave him one more argument against his mother who had doubts when he told her that he wanted to become a professional footballer.
“At 15, I told her that I wanted to turn pro and for her it was complicated, it’s hard for a mother to believe that her son will turn pro at 15.
“Now I am 20 years old, the project is coming true and in addition there are goals and offers to go to other clubs. It’s solid evidence for her and she’s starting to believe it more.”
Giant step
During Friday’s training, Wilfried Nancy lost patience with Koné during an exercise that was choreographic. We called in a third player in the race. And how did Koné score? On the same type of game.
“There’s a reason our coach is in the running for Coach of the Year, it’s because what we do in training works in games,” Djordje Mihailovic said.
The midfielder who finished the match with a goal and an assist on Koné’s net was ecstatic for his teammate.
“It’s incredible. He took a huge step between last season and this one and I think he deserves to go to the World Cup with Canada.
“He works hard, he has a good head on his shoulders and in matches, we see his qualities and he doesn’t back down from any challenge, it’s special at that age.”
emotions
Quickly, we saw that Orlando was going to be mentally disturbing with a lot of wasted time, especially from goalkeeper Pedro Gallese on goal kicks.
The staff had planned for it and the players had been treated to a video session on the subject earlier this week.
“We worked on that during the week, explained Wilfried Nancy. We prepared the players because Orlando is emotional.
“We went over what could happen, playing eleven against ten and vice versa, coming back from behind and the objective was to show them that they had already been through this.”
What an atmosphere!
Saputo Stadium was packed and there was a fairground atmosphere. There was something electric and the players quickly noticed it.
“It’s the best atmosphere I’ve had in my professional career and that says a lot because I’ve had a lot of good atmospheres,” Mihailovic said.
“When we entered the field, we had goosebumps. It’s the kind of moment we play for.”