Ahmed has started to finally grow into the major division halfway through the season, with 6 g/a in 6 matches (2 goals, 4 assists). In total this season, Nikolai has achieved 3 goals and 4 assists, only 1 G/A behind his S20 performance for Seoul in the Minor League (8 G/A, 3 Goals 5 Assists). Once again Ahmed has done well against last season's league winners SFV, helping Catalunya reach a 4-2 victory and creating a 6 point gap between themselves and last place Shanghai Dragons.
In the 22nd minute of the match against SFV, Nikolai had an almost solo effort goal, dribbling around a SFV player from a throw in on the left flank, and taking the ball all the way to the semi-circle in front of the box. He dispatched an attempted curler into the far post, but it rebounded of Qartista and rolled into the center of the net. This moment would kick off the creativity Nikolai would express later in the match as well. Although Nikolai wasn't on the scoresheet from this moment of brilliance, he would be happy to contribute anyways (and in our hearts it is his goal).
This next moment is technically a creative moment, even if it wasn't for his own team. Fry would attempt a pass to a running Nikolai Ahmed, but the pass was aimed directly at Ahmed's back. The ball rebounded off Ahmed and straight to a SFV player, and in a matter of seconds SFV would score to take the lead against Catalunya. Fans in the yellow and red would not be happy with this play, and it was up to Nikolai to make up for it.... which he did, when a free kick from Luiz Jr. found Bamford at the top of the box. Bamford threaded a one touch through ball to Nikolai who was running into the box on the right hand side, and Ahmed slotted it into the bottom corner on the far post, leveling the score at 2-2. Although some VAR controversy, it was shown that Nikolai was right on the line with the SFV second last man.
Ahmed would later contribute to the 4th goal in the build up, carrying the ball from the defensive half to half line where we would find Fry, who assisted Miedema to find the 4th goal. Now that we've covered the goal involvements, let's look at some statistics.
Match Rating: 8.3
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Pass Completion: 93%
Headers Completed: 66%
Key Passes: 1
Interceptions: 5
Safe to say that Nikolai had a pretty good game against SFV, and hopefully he keeps up his form so I can keep writing these. Earlier this season I made an article talking about the possibility of Nikolai being a fraud, and how he needs to step up this season to prove himself, and so far he is on track for a pretty good season.
In the 22nd minute of the match against SFV, Nikolai had an almost solo effort goal, dribbling around a SFV player from a throw in on the left flank, and taking the ball all the way to the semi-circle in front of the box. He dispatched an attempted curler into the far post, but it rebounded of Qartista and rolled into the center of the net. This moment would kick off the creativity Nikolai would express later in the match as well. Although Nikolai wasn't on the scoresheet from this moment of brilliance, he would be happy to contribute anyways (and in our hearts it is his goal).
This next moment is technically a creative moment, even if it wasn't for his own team. Fry would attempt a pass to a running Nikolai Ahmed, but the pass was aimed directly at Ahmed's back. The ball rebounded off Ahmed and straight to a SFV player, and in a matter of seconds SFV would score to take the lead against Catalunya. Fans in the yellow and red would not be happy with this play, and it was up to Nikolai to make up for it.... which he did, when a free kick from Luiz Jr. found Bamford at the top of the box. Bamford threaded a one touch through ball to Nikolai who was running into the box on the right hand side, and Ahmed slotted it into the bottom corner on the far post, leveling the score at 2-2. Although some VAR controversy, it was shown that Nikolai was right on the line with the SFV second last man.
Ahmed would later contribute to the 4th goal in the build up, carrying the ball from the defensive half to half line where we would find Fry, who assisted Miedema to find the 4th goal. Now that we've covered the goal involvements, let's look at some statistics.
Match Rating: 8.3
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Pass Completion: 93%
Headers Completed: 66%
Key Passes: 1
Interceptions: 5
Safe to say that Nikolai had a pretty good game against SFV, and hopefully he keeps up his form so I can keep writing these. Earlier this season I made an article talking about the possibility of Nikolai being a fraud, and how he needs to step up this season to prove himself, and so far he is on track for a pretty good season.
