Sporting Kansas City Livin’ Willy Style – Agada smile
Forward Willy Agada was elated on Sunday night after Sporting Kansas City’s 4-1 win over Portland Timbers:
“yell for the boys All the guys worked today,” the Nigerian native told the media surrounding him. “You can see how everyone is so hungry to play today and everyone knows we made it. We earned those points and I’m glad everyone worked and we made it. I’m happy for us.”
In just over a month at Sporting Kansas City, not only has Agada netted five goals and one assist in his last three games (4 starts, 2 total substitutes), but more importantly, the 22-year-old Agada has done the side with an energetic blend of joy, wisdom, brotherhood, skill, and a shrewd and deadly execution of the basics.
One only has to look at his second goal on Sunday night: when Agada sees left-back Ben Sweat opening wide, like an educated adult, Agada has his trick up his sleeve. Then, with the inner stirring of childhood excitement, Agada exuberantly accelerates to gain momentum. The passport comes. Agada’s outburst takes him past the beleaguered defender (a helpless parent wondering where these kids get all that energy from). The touch has no doubt. Goal!!! Willy Agada! Goal!!! Kansas City!
“Goal scorers can score goals in many different ways,” Agada’s Sporting Manager Peter Vermes said in the post-match press conference. “I thought his second goal was excellent: it was his movement to get the defender to go with him when he returned to the ball; Then he created the space below. A superb finish for him to end this.”
A teammate’s teammate gives endless credit, and Agada wasn’t short on appreciation for Sweat’s support.
“Wow, brilliant submission from Ben. It’s such a great connection,” Agada said. “When I look at him he just looks at me and he knows I’m going to change the run and he just puts the ball where it’s so easy for me.”
Agada’s youthful joy and passion are what he is. Reading deeper into who he is as a player reveals the tactical acumen, whether learned or instinctive, of a field commander.
Yet the ultimate joy and reward often comes with discipline and maturity. In the 16th minute of Sunday’s game, the ball crept in behind an overzealous defender in Agada. One-on-one with Timbers goalkeeper Aijaz Ivacic, Agada doesn’t shoot straight away. Instead, he waits and is then forced to pull the ball back into the faces of two defenders. In response, strikers all too often kick the post or hang their heads in frustration at the missed opportunity. As a result, this dismay often manifests itself in the fact that the next opportunity is missed.
“This is football to you… If you get the chance, you get it. Even if it’s a goal, even if it’s not a goal. All you have to do is keep your head up and keep going… It doesn’t matter. At this moment it is ready. It will never come back,” Agada said with the wisdom of a veteran. “You just have to keep a strong head and be professional and wait for the next one.”
Being headstrong allows Agada to be present in other moments, moments when his sharp instincts kick in.
After providing Sporting with the opening half-volley salvo that saw Agada show concentration and strong body control on a ball that had bounced over his head and was behind him, Agada became the provider in the 42nd Minute. After landing his right foot inside out to look inside the field, Agada overlooks two options. Right winger Daniel Salloi is square to Agada but marked. In seconds, Agada decides against Salloi while spying on midfielder Erik Thommy’s upcoming central run. Agada lays flat in a perfect spot for what Vermes described as Thommy’s “world class” finish.
The value of first contact and instant decision-making cannot be overestimated – Thommy praised Agada’s importance, saying he “brings us a lot of solutions in the last third” – neither did Agada’s awareness and appreciation of what Thommy’s arrival corresponded to Agada’s, brought to Kansas City.
“He has such a great mentality. You can see him trying to work and put us in the situation,” Agada announced. “It’s my job to keep the ball up and if I have no choice, to keep it. Thommy always gives me options. So it’s a great goal from him and I’m happy I gave him the assist.”
That goal was Sporting’s third of the first half and comfortably pushed the home side past the point where an opponent’s goal creates a cool momentum shift. In general, the goals brought by Agada changed the mentality of Sporting.
“Solid. Massive,” said goalkeeper John Pulskamp. “It just takes all the pressure off you and allows you to play freely; it allows you to feel comfortable; It allows you to almost welcome the pressure from the other team. In the first half, when my guys score three goals at the other end, I’m like, ‘Okay. cum on me Bring a few chances of your own and let me do my part.’”
Asked if he could ask captain Johnny Russell to lead the team on goals, Agada praised his captain for pushing everyone forward before saying: “The most important thing is the team, winning.”
“Everyone is here just because of the team. We’re not selfish on this team. You can see how I gave Thommy the ball and I tried to give Russell some balls. It works. We play together,” he continued.
And Agada picked up some slang to emphasize his sense of oneness with everyone: “Bro, it’s crazy. These guys just make me a star, bro. They always cook. I only eat, you know. I’m so thankful to have such great players on the team. You are lovely.”
Don’t worry. Agada also had words for the fans: “The fans are amazing. It’s all about love. It’s crazy. love is crazy I am happy to have such fans. Hopefully we keep winning games and putting smiles on their faces… I look forward to being part of this family. I am very happy to be here.”
Agada’s exuberant personality reflects his game on the field. But his game goes one step further in execution. Every part was a boon to a team that has had so many lows this season and everyone was reminded why we love this game and why we love playing this game. Will it all end in unexpected playoff glory? “Why not?” asked Agada. “It’s game after game and we have to keep our mentality straight.”
Maintaining that mentality is easier when Agada is around.
Agada smiles. Are the fans smiling? is it willy Is it his teammates? Yes, yes, yes, that’s it. It’s crazy bro.