Nigeria and Brighton & Hove Albion striker Ini Umotong has praised the effort of the whole squad after her goal contributed to a 2-0 FA Women’s Super League victory over Liverpool.
The Nigeria international was happy that the team executed their game plan, and believes it will give the squad a huge amount of belief heading into 2019.
Umotong scored one goal and created the other as Brighton registered only their second league win of the season with the victory at Liverpool.
“We knew it was going to be an important game. Liverpool were a few places ahead of us and the pressure was on us, but we executed the game plan well,” Umotong told Brighton & Hove Albion’s official website.
“We kept a clean sheet, scored two goals and I thought the performance from all of the girls was really good, and it’s a great way to start 2019.”
“As an individual and as a team, the performance has shown that when we work well together, we can achieve a lot as a group.”
“The whole squad has had a massive confidence boost and personally for me scoring that goal will just raise my confidence more.”
“I thought it [her shot before the first goal] went in! I might have been a bit blind but I thought it may have crossed the line.”
“As soon as I hit it I thought about celebrating, but Raff [Laura Rafferty] was in the perfect place at the right time to make sure the ball found the net.”
“For the second goal, I was pretty sure that one of their players tried to play it back to her team mate but got it slightly wrong.”
“So really it was their mistake that set me up, which is nice as it’s not something that happens very often. But when it does, you need to make sure you take advantage, and I was happy to do that.”
The victory broke a four-match WSL losing streak for Brighton and lifted them into ninth place, leapfrogging Everton, who lost 3-0 at Chelsea.
Albion are three points behind eighth-placed Liverpool, who have now gone seven games without a league win since 21 October.
COMMENTS
Top player
She is a complete player.
With the women’s world cup just about 3 months to go,I was reading an article on Theargus.co.uk where Super Falcons striker Ini Umotong, who has a first class Honours Degree in Economics, implied that the recent Cyprus Cup tournament was beneficial in the team’s world cup preparations.
According to the platform, the Brighton and Hove striker said: “It (The Cyprus tournament) was really good.
It was great opportunity, great experience and we had four competitive games to help us prepare for the World Cup.
I played three games and I think I was happy how it went.
I gelled well with the team and feel more of a part of the system and how the coach wants us to play.” She said.
It is an interesting article that makes for good reading. The piece also touched on Umotong’s chances of making Nigeria’s world cup squad to which she said (in humility): “That’s the goal. I want to be on that final list.
I have no idea whether I will make it but I’m doing everything I can.” End of quote. (Source:www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/albion_women/17495857.ini-umotong-can-do-the-business-for-albion-and-beyond/)
I do hope she makes Nigeria’s world cup squad. I think she will make an impact.
Super Falcons World Cup hopeful Ini-Abasi Umotong crashed the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box in 93 minutes as her Brighton side drew 1:1 with Yeovil Town yesterday in the women’s Premier League.
She came in as a 72 minutes substitute.
I expect Ini to be a key member of the Super Falcons side in this summer world cup.