June 26, 2021
Eikon Sports Group client, Ollie Bassett receives the Gatorade Man of the Match
Ollie Bassett made his debut with Pacific FC, starting as a deep lying holding mid-fielder. This was a great opportunity for Ollie to showcase how fluid he is in terms of what position he takes up on the pitch. In 2019, with Waitakere United, he played as a left winger. In 2020, with Team Wellington, he played as an out and out #10. Fast forward to 2021, he’s playing as a holding mid-fielder with Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League.
It was clear from the early stages of the match that when in possession Ollie was going to dictate the tempo and direction of Pacific’s build up in attack. He was searching for the ball and clearly wanted to get early touches to grow into the game. He did just that, on the day he completed 61/65 passes and played some incisive passes that led to chances in the final third. Including providing the pass that led to the assist on Marco Bustos’ goal that put Pacific up 1-0. After a weather delay Ollie got on the score sheet himself banging in an early “Goal of the Season” candidate in the 38th minute. After a standout debut performance, Ollie was selected the Gatorade Man of the Match and finished with an InStat rating of 243.
If you’d like to see Ollie’s full match highlights, give them a watch by clicking here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuy8VzZwuhY
June 27, 2021
Eikon Sports Group client, Austin Ricci receives the Gatorade Man of the Match
After what was a promising first season with Valour FC in 2020 from Austin Ricci, optimism was high entering this year that he would cement himself as one of the top strikers in the CPL. Austin appears to have found his breakthrough performance after two seasons which saw him only play limited minutes and not find his name on the scoresheet.
Against the two-time reigning champions, Forge FC, Austin put in his best shift as a professional as he drew a penalty early on in the 5th minute. The spot kick was calmly converted by another Eikon Sports Group client, Moses Dyer. About 20 minutes later, in the 26th minute of the match Austin in his usual high-pressing style stole the ball off the Forge FC defender and drove forward with great speed and power calmly crossing the face of the goal after a great shot fake putting the ball onto his left foot and slotting it into the bottom corner. At last, his first professional goal.
Later in the match Austin created a clear-cut opportunity on a dangerous cross across the Forge goal, but the tap-in was missed by his teammate. The match finished 2-0, with Valour securing their first win of the season and Ricci securing Player of the Game honors for creating 1 goal, scoring another, and narrowly missing out and assisting a third. Ricci finished the match with a game-high InStat rating of 264.
If you’d like to see Austin’s full match highlights, give them a watch by clicking here:
