PAQARADA: "IF I'VE GOT SO MUCH SPACE, WHY NOT JUST HIT IT?"
Friday, 27. August 2021, 16:30 Uhr
Just over six months after Daniel-Kofi Kyereh was nominated for the January Goal of the Month award, Leart Paqarada became the next St. Pauli player to make the shortlist, this time for the July edition. His strike in the 3-0 home win over Holstein Kiel was a belter, a pinpoint effort from 25 metres that arrowed into the top-right corner of the goal. Paqarada knows he faces stiff competition from the other four candidates, but with the support of the fans believes he is in with a chance of winning.
When we met Leart Paqarada during the week, the frustration and anger over the first defeat of the season at Paderborn was written all over his face. "We could have got a result even though we were down to ten men for more for 87 minutes if you include time added on," our No23 said. "Both their goals came at a bad time for us – the equaliser just before the break and the second in a phase when we were well in the game. It hurt to come away empty-handed because it felt like there was more in it for us, but we've analysed the game and drawn a line under it now."
The preceding matches had been a source of joy rather than frustration and the impressive Paqarada more than played his role in that. Indeed, it was he who notched the first goal of the new campaign with just ten minutes and 15 seconds of the opening game against Holstein Kiel gone. And what a goal it was! "I know I have a good shot on me," the left-back said, "and when I have so much space, why not just hit it?" It started when Finn Ole Becker knocked the ball out to Paqarada on the left after Eric Smith had won possession. Starting from his own half, the Kosovo international pushed forward with the ball at his feet and, six touches later and largely unchallenged by a Kiel defender, let rip from around 25 metres, rifling a shot into the top-right corner past the despairing dive of Kiel keeper Ioannis Gelios.
Leart Paqarada points to where the ball entered the Kiel net: bang in the top-right corner.
While Paqarada would be delighted to pick up the July Goal of the Month award, his focus is firmly on the home game against league leaders Jahn Regensburg. "Pure intensity," he replies when asked what he and his teammates can expect when the game kicks off at half past one on Sunday. "They've won every game so far and will come here feeling very confident. We'll prepare in detail, of course, but our main focus will be on ourselves and our own strengths and on what we have to do better. Ultimately, it's down to us whether we win the game or not."
Photos: FC St. Pauli
