Football is an interesting game enjoyed by millions worldwide. The tackles, the goals and the celebrations last a lifetime even for those who watch from afar. However, some people have been blessed to be the main actors in these thrills that create ecstasy and euphoria day in and day out.
Just like most other sports games, football has three outcomes; win, draw or lose. While a win or loss is accepted as a final result at all times, a draw sometimes is not. A draw sometimes leads to another part of the game called penalty kicks. These kicks are what are used as deciders in the event of draws during the knockout stages or finals of tournaments. Penalties may also be played during normal game time when an opposition player is fouled inside the penalty area normally called the 18-yard box.
Playing a penalty sometimes looks like a lottery. The goalkeeper tries to guess and dive the right way at the right time to stop the ball from entering the net. On the other hand, the player taking the kick tries to trick the keeper into falling the wrong way.
Penalty kicks are something more than just guessing right and wrong, they become an art and some players have excelled in that regard. While great names such as Christiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr have scored epic penalties in their career, these greats have missed a good number of penalties in their career.
Christiano Ronaldo is indeed the player that has scored the most penalties in world football, 149. But the Portuguese superstar has not been perfect. He missed 29 of all the penalties he has taken so far.
There are few players to do so perfectly. Notable in the list of players who have never missed a penalty is former Albanian star Ledio Pano who made it 50 from 50. Another is Ivan Krstanović, a striker for Slaven Belupo in the Croatia First Football League. He made it 30 from 30. Romanian midfielder Ovidiu Herea also scored 38 out of 38. His record nearly ended in 2012 when a goalkeeper saved his kick against FC Rapid București but the referee spotted an infringement and ordered a retake which he scored.
In Africa, former Ivorian international Yaya Toure stands tall. The lanky midfielder did not get the chance to take many but those he took, he made sure they all entered. He scored all the 15 penalties he took including 11 for Manchester City in the league.
Jordan Ayew among the 12-yard perfectionists
Ghana’s Jordan Ayew finds his name among this class of perfectionists from 12 yards. The former Olympic Marseille man has to date taken responsibility for 14 penalty kicks and he never had a moment of regret from any of them.
Following his most recent activity for Ghana during the international break, we decided to dig into the records to list all the goalkeepers the Ghanaian striker has scored against.
The first time Jordan Ayew officially took a penalty for a team was in September 2018 when Marseille took on Arsenal in the Champions League. Jordan Ayew scored the only goal for the French side in their 1-2 defeat against the English club. And that was how Wojciech Szczęsny became the first victim of Jordan Ayew’s penalty onslaught.
Since scoring his first against Wojciech Szczęsny in 2013, Jordan Ayew has scored against Remy Vercoutre, Ali Ahamada and Steve Mandana. He also put the ball past Felipe Ovono, Adrian, Ali Al-Habsi, Abel Mamo Primo, Ivane Urubal, Stanley Nwabili and Tom Ikara. Ivane Urubal conceded twice against Jordan Ayew when the attacker scored two for Ghana in a 2-2 draw against Mozambique that sealed the exit of the Black Stars from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Adrian also conceded twice against Ayew in the Premier League. The attacker scored first against the Spaniard while playing for Aston Villa in 2015 and for Swansea City in 2018
In all, Jordan Ayew has scored three times each in Ligue 1 and Africa Cup of Nations. He netted twice each in the Premier League, Africa Cup of Nations Qualifications and International Friendlies. Only one English Championship and one UEFA Champions League goalkeepers suffered against the Crystal Palace forward.
Below is a table showing the details of all the penalties Jordan Ayew took since 2013.
Source: awakenewsroom.com