In the space of a week, Yannick Bolasie has managed to go from being criticised for his lack of end product to becoming Anderlecht’s hero.
The winger, loaned to the Belgian side by Everton, was on the end of a mini De Standaard rant last Monday, as the newspaper claimed that while he ‘entertained the public’, his efforts ‘seldom’ led to anything worthwhile.
Bolasie then asked for some time to adjust, and it appears a week is all he needed, because, on Sunday, the DR Congo international became the talk of the league with his 92nd minute winner against Antwerp.
Launching himself in a Cristiano Ronaldo-esque leap that impressed even the opposition goalkeeper, the Everton loanee headed the ball in at the back post, sealing a win that could be crucial for his new club’s future endeavours.
With just four games left in the regular season before the playoffs, Anderlecht are now on course to finishing in the top tier, meaning they would end up fighting for the league title rather than the final European spot.
If this ‘unlikely win’, as DH put it, proves to be key in their bid for qualification, then everyone will see it as Bolasie ‘justifying his salary’, described as the largest in the history of the league.
Not a bad turnaround.
