NOMAD FINDS RIGHT FIT WITH LOYAL
Vassell says being striker ‘was the opportunity I was looking for coming here’
It was the kind of goal that special players score and why the term “striker” holds such a hallowed place in the parlance of soccer.
After Kyle Vassell deftly handled a pass while running into the opposing box, laid out sideways and then smashed a left-footed shot past the New Mexico keeper last Saturday, the highlight soon made its way around social media and reminded SD Loyal coach Landon Donovan of why Vassell was brought to San Diego in the first place.
“Unlike any player I’ve seen in this league, he has the ability to make a play like that, to score that type of goal,” Donovan said. “That is instinct taking over and the skill to make it happen.”
As Donovan’s third-place Loyal (62-2, 20 points) prepare to host firstplace Colorado Springs (8-1, 24 points) Saturday night at Torero Stadium, the team does so in the belief that at any given moment, Vassell can make something big happen.
His six goals are tied for the USL lead with Dane Kelly (Pittsburgh) and Daniel Trejo (Las Vegas) and the Loyal rank second behind only El Paso with 22 goals as a team.
Whether the Loyal are in a 4-4-2 or 3-4-3 formation, Vassell is typically at the forefront of the attack, stressing the defense, probing for openings and generally creating problems (his 20 shots on goal also lead the team).
“This was the opportunity I was looking for coming here,” Vassell said. “To be a striker. I’ve played all over the pitch in the past but this is what I wanted to do. It’s been a great fit for me.”
The 28-year-old Vassell’s biography reads like a fascinating tour through the various levels of English football.
Born in London, he started as a schoolboy in the Norwich City system and in 2010 at age 15, joined Brentford
where he really started on a nomadic journey.
From Brentford through early January when he completed a two-year stint with Cheltenham Town FC, Vassell played for 17 different clubs at six different levels either as a semi-professional, on contract or on loan and also made two appearances with the Northern Ireland national team in 2018.
Along the way, Vassell totaled 60 goals with a career highmark coming with 22 goals in 63 appearances with Blackpool from 2016-18.
He trained with the Loyal for a month last season but was unable to play due a holdup over acquiring a work visa yet enjoyed the experience and returned hoping this season would spark his career.
It has.
“You are never quite sure of what to expect when you make such a big move but it has been lovely,” Vassell said. “I wouldn’t be here were it not for Landon — he sold me on his vision for this team and how I might fit and it has worked well. Really enjoying it.”
Listed at 6-foot-1, 187 pounds, Vassell has the stocky build of an American football running back and it comes in handy when warding off contact or attempting to keep his balance on the dribble.
That strength and the skills developed over the years of playing against English competition have made him a lethal weapon for a Loyal team which sometimes struggled to create clean scoring chances last season.
He also has formed a nice chemistry with teammates like midfielder and fellow Englishmen Jack Blake, who was on the receiving end of a slick Vassell pass before scoring in a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay on April 30.
“He creates a lot of problems,” said Blake, who is in his second season with the team. “His movement. He makes it clear where he wants the ball. He’s always looking to attack. To be honest, he’s a bit of a defender’s nightmare.”