By Patrick Akoto
Follow on twitter: @patakoto1
Asamoah Gyan has parried criticism he showed unsportsmanlike conduct in the lead up to his fabulous curler which helped Al Ain to their 2-1 win over Al Jazira in the Arabian Gulf League cracker last Sunday.
The 29-year-old stole the limelight again with a tremendous finish which sent the Boss six points clear at the top with eight games left to play.
However, the match wasn’t without controversy, Jazira players being angered that Gyan didn’t kick the ball out in the build-up to his winner as defender Khalid Sabeal recovered from injury.
Gyan says he had done nothing wrong, the Ghana international insisting those blaming him were just trying “to find an excuse”.
“I am a professional who always abides by the fair-play rules. But when I got the ball, I saw there was a player down so I was watching their reaction,” he said
“The guy was on the floor, and I saw him get up. That’s why I continued. “After the goal, he went down again to find an excuse. That is no good for me.”
Gyan was sportingly absolved of any blame by Jazira boss Eric Gerets, who commendably spoke to the player at the final whistle and supported his actions in the postmatch press conference.
“I was trying to explain to Gerets why I didn’t kick the ball out,” the former Rennes and Udinese star said. “He told me I was right. I appreciate it as he is an experienced coach, one of the best coaches."
Gyan been the division’s top scorer in the last three campaigns since joining from Sunderland – initially on loan – in 2011. But a bitty 2014-15 sees him trail 20-goal leading marksman Mirko Vucinic of Al Jazira by nine strikes – injury, suspension and fatigue from Ghana’s run to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final taking their toll.
The predator of old has re-appeared of late, his tremendous curled winner in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash against the Pride of Abu Dhabi making it four goals in his last three appearances in all competitions.