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Goal.com World Player Of The Week: Obafemi Martins
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Nov 17, 2009 2:40:29 PM
Welcome to Goal.com's regular feature: Goal.com World Player of the Week. Each week our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International,
who deserves recognition for achieving something special that matchday.
It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not
usually - but whoever we nominate will have done something amazing. It
might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something
praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question
deserves special attention...
Goal.com World Player of the Week #26: Obafemi Martins
Club: Wolfsburg
Country: Nigeria
Age: 25
Role: Forward
Achievement: Scoring two goals to help Nigeria qualify for the World Cup against all the odds.
Nigeria entered their final World Cup 2010 qualifier against Kenya, away from home, in need of something close to a miracle to make it to the tournament in South Africa next summer. Mozambique, hosting Tunisia, had to defeat the Carthage Eagles in their final encounter for Nigeria to have any chance of making it to the December 4 draw. Needing nothing less than a victory, a heart-stopping drama ensued in a topsy-turvy encounter in Nairobi that eventually fell in the Super Eagles' favour. Their cause was helped by a truly inspirational performance from Wolfsburg's Obafemi Martins. Embellishing a goal from Aiyegbeni Yakubu, the former Inter front-man struck twice, including a vital intervention seven minutes from the final whistle, to send the Eagles soaring to South Africa.
Congratulations to Obafemi, our 26th Goal.com World Player of the Week!
Honourable Mentions:
Emad Meteb - Egypt & Al Ahly
The striker came off the bench to secure a World Cup play-off for Egypt against Algeria in Sudan later this week. The Pharaohs needed a two-goal margin to force an extra qualifier and Ahly's Meteb scored deep into stoppage time in a memorable encounter.
Nani - Portugal & Manchester United
The Manchester United winger was the best in show for Portugal against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Saturday night, taking the initiative in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Had his team-mates played to the level that he had shown, A Quinas would have been further ahead going into the second leg of the World Cup play-off.
Aaron Ramsey - Wales & Arsenal
The teenager has taken responsibility for most of the Dragons' attacking play and was central to an eye-catching trouncing of Scotland. Key passes, assists, goals - the young Gunner showed that he had it all in his locker.
Leave your notes of congratulations for Obafemi below, or discuss who else deserves a place in the sun this week...
Goal.com World Player of the Week #26: Obafemi Martins
Club: Wolfsburg
Country: Nigeria
Age: 25
Role: Forward
Achievement: Scoring two goals to help Nigeria qualify for the World Cup against all the odds.
Nigeria entered their final World Cup 2010 qualifier against Kenya, away from home, in need of something close to a miracle to make it to the tournament in South Africa next summer. Mozambique, hosting Tunisia, had to defeat the Carthage Eagles in their final encounter for Nigeria to have any chance of making it to the December 4 draw. Needing nothing less than a victory, a heart-stopping drama ensued in a topsy-turvy encounter in Nairobi that eventually fell in the Super Eagles' favour. Their cause was helped by a truly inspirational performance from Wolfsburg's Obafemi Martins. Embellishing a goal from Aiyegbeni Yakubu, the former Inter front-man struck twice, including a vital intervention seven minutes from the final whistle, to send the Eagles soaring to South Africa.
Congratulations to Obafemi, our 26th Goal.com World Player of the Week!
Honourable Mentions:
Emad Meteb - Egypt & Al Ahly
The striker came off the bench to secure a World Cup play-off for Egypt against Algeria in Sudan later this week. The Pharaohs needed a two-goal margin to force an extra qualifier and Ahly's Meteb scored deep into stoppage time in a memorable encounter.
Nani - Portugal & Manchester United
The Manchester United winger was the best in show for Portugal against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Saturday night, taking the initiative in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Had his team-mates played to the level that he had shown, A Quinas would have been further ahead going into the second leg of the World Cup play-off.
Aaron Ramsey - Wales & Arsenal
The teenager has taken responsibility for most of the Dragons' attacking play and was central to an eye-catching trouncing of Scotland. Key passes, assists, goals - the young Gunner showed that he had it all in his locker.
Leave your notes of congratulations for Obafemi below, or discuss who else deserves a place in the sun this week...
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
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2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
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