Zambian star makes English Premiership history

LEICESTER. — Zambia international Patson Daka made his English Premier League football history after finding the back of the net against Manchester United on Saturday.

Daka was introduced in the 77th minute for Kelechi Iheanacho and managed to bag the fourth goal with a finish at the far post as the Foxes ran out 4-2 winners at the King Power Stadium.

In doing so, Daka became the first Zambian player in history to score in the English Premier League with his strike in second-half stoppage time.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased for Daka, who he describes as a natural goal scorer.

“James (Maddison) and Kels (Kelechi Iheanacho) put everything into the game, so we needed to keep the freshness in the team, we needed to keep them pushing,” Rodgers said after the game.

“And obviously bringing Patson (Daka) on, he wants to run in behind, he’s a natural goalscorer. For him, he had a little chance inside the box, the ‘keeper makes a save and then he’s there, sniffing around the goal for the finish. So, I’m very pleased for him.”

And Daka says he realised a Premier League dream after opening his account for Leicester City in Saturday’s 4-2 success against Manchester United.

His instinctive finish at the back post sealed a memorable three points for City, and Daka explained why the support of those around him was crucial.

He told LCFC TV: “It meant so much to me for my confidence, and it’s something that I’ve been looking forward to.

“It still feels like a dream, and I don’t want to wake up! I’m just so excited and happy that I got to open my scoring account with this club, and I look forward many more.

“I was just praying that I shouldn’t make any mistake, because it’s so crazy. I had to concentrate fully and I managed to score, which was very important.

“It was really important for me, for my confidence, but also for the team. It was a very crazy game, very intense against a tough opponents, and it’s all because of the support that I received from my teammates, from the coaching staff and everyone at the Club, including the fans. To get the goal, it gives me an extra boost for my confidence.”

Daka came off the bench with 13 minutes to play, and after playing a role in City’s second goal, he was on target himself in injury time.

When asked about what manager Rodgers said to him, Daka revealed: “He just told me to go and pick up from where Kelechi (Iheanacho) had left, because he did his very best, and he did everything that he could, so it was my time now to go and do my very best.

“He told me: ‘Don’t have pressure, just do what you do’, and that’s what I went to do.

“It’s not something that will make us go crazy, because there’s still a lot of games ahead of us, and we have to concentrate on the game in Russia. There’s no time to really dwell on this victory. We have to focus on the next game.”

Lyon are now placed fifth in the French Ligue 1 championship race with 16 points from 10 matches after Saturday’s sweet victory over Monaco.