Transferred to the English second division in December, Ismaël Koné took his first steps with Watford FC on Saturday in a 2-0 defeat against Reading which led to their elimination in the 32nd round of the FA Cup.
Still, Watford manager Slaven Bilić had good words for the youngster who was employed the whole game after arriving in England just a week ago. He notably created a good chance to score in the 73rd minute, but his teammate’s shot was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper.
“He put a smile on my face with his performance. He’s responsible, he’s good with the ball and does well off the ball as well. He proved to me that we can count on him and that we can use him right now. »
Koné was recently named Canada Soccer’s Young Player of the Year. At 20, he was the youngest of the Canadian selection at the World Cup in Qatar.
Kelvin Abrefa (45th+3) and Shane Long (90th+3) each scored in stoppage time in Reading’s win.
Watford return to action next Saturday against Blackpool in a Second Division league game.
The Premier League leaves some feathers
In other FA Cup matches, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were among the notable casualties in the Premier League today, with Tottenham unshaken.
Respectively 15th and 16th in the elite, the two teams fell against opponents from the lower tier.
Nottingham were heavily beaten (4-1) by Blackpool, 22nd in their championship, who had not won for 9 games, while Bournemouth were surprised at home (4-2) by Vincent Kompany’s team, Burnley, leader in D2 where he was relegated last summer.
Current third in the Premier League, Newcastle were also surprised by Sheffield Wednesday, a D3 club, who beat them 2-1.
After Everton, beaten by Manchester United (3-1), on Friday, a fourth Premier League resident bit the dust, Crystal Palace, knocked down at home by the red lantern, Southampton (2-1) for the first success of Nathan Jones on the bench of the Saints since his arrival.
The logic was otherwise rather well respected, like Brighton who easily won at Middlesbrough (D2) 5 to 1 or Fulham (2-0) at Hull (D2).
Tottenham, who had taken no risk by lining up Harry Kane and Son Heung-min against Portsmouth (D3), qualified thanks to a goal from the captain of England at the start of the second half (1- 0), while Leicester won just as small (1-0) against Gilligham (D4).
The two small thumbs of the competition, Chesterfield and Boreham Wood, of 5th division, will have to replay their match after draws against West Bromwich Albion (D2, 3-3) and Accrington Stanley (D4, 1-1).
