Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa was ready for the return of the legend of Italian football – Andriy Shevchenko – and the Ukrainian made his debut in front of his new fans against Roma. The Griffons were well on their way to collect a point, the resisted more than 80 minutes with futile attacks from Jose Mourinho’s crew, the Roman club struggled to break through the defense of the team that recorded only one clean sheet this season in Serie A. Then the Portuguese manager introduced Felix Afena-Gyan to the football world.The 18-year-old was given the opportunity in the last ten minutes to show what he can do – his third coming in from the bench this season – and he did not spare a single moment. He scored two goals, one of which is a true masterpiece, brought back Roma to the winning path and ruined Shevchenko’s coaching debut in Italy.Ghana’s 18-yr old sensation, Felix Afena-Gyan’s two goals over the weekend gave Roma a win away to Genoa.That’s his first goals for Roma after he was included in the senior team for the first time.He’s getting new set of boots from Mourinho this morning. pic.twitter.com/0QSZVyFRyh— Africa Info 247 (@SmartAtuadi) November 22, 2021 Nicolo Zaniolo, Borja Majoral and Carlos Perez were all at Mourinho’s disposal on the bench and he needed a goal – regardless he decided to give a chance to the 18-year-old African, who had spent only 79 minutes on the pitch until last night. And as of yesterday, there will certainly be many, many more. The Portuguese’s belief in Afena-Gyan paid off. The Ghanaian player gave him back much more than he could have expected, he scored both goals and became the first scorer born after January 1, 2003 in Serie A.This was Roma’s second triumph in the last eight games in all competitions. The triumph that brought them to the fifth position after the defeat of the city rival Lazio and are now three points away from the fourth-seeded Atalanta and the place that leads to the Champions League.For the first goal of the evening, the Ghanaian teenage sensation can thank Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who took the ball in the middle of the pitch, ran passed three Genoa players on the way to the penalty area and put the ball away for the oncoming Afena-Gyan, who sent the ball behind Salvatore Sirigu.And then, far deep into stoppage time, the moment of the match – El Shaarawy loses the ball, Felix picks it up, takes a step forward and – boom, some 25 meters away from the goal, into the upper far corner. He celebrated this masterpiece of a goal by running into Mourinho’s embrace.A dream come true for sure. And the youngster expressed his gratitude after the game. “I thank God for this opportunity he gave me, the team, the coach, the fans, players for their amazing support. I also want to say thank you Mom, she is in Ghana, I love you,” Felix told DAZN after the final whistle.On Felix hugging him after scoring the opening goal, Mourinho replied to DAZN.“I had promised to buy him some shoes that cost a lot in case he scored, 800 euros, I can’t say the brand. And he came to tell me not to forget it. Tomorrow morning I will buy them.””In the afternoon the Primavera will play and I am sorry for Mr.De Rossi (Roma Primavera coach) but Felix will not play with them.”Mourinho plucked the Ghanaian from the Roma Primavera youth team to boost their numbers. And on what stood out the most in Felix when he played with the Primavera, the Special One had tons of praises.Sun, 28/11, 20.00: (1.60) ROMA (4.10) TORINO (6.25)“He has been coming to us since the beginning of the season. I was impressed by his determination in front of goal, he is not technically a phenomenon but he is deadly in front of goal.”“I was also struck by his humility. Sometimes in the new generations you meet guys who have no humility and think they know everything, instead he ‘eats up’ everything and has a fantastic sense of development.”“I’m sorry for Mr.De Rossi but I am sure he will also be happy for the boy.”“Felix changes the dynamic of the game when he enters, he finds a team that has ran a lot and is tired.”“This guy, Felix, has intensity, he brought a different intensity to the team, he gives the team another gear.”
