Going into the Estádio João Cardoso, in Tondela, FC Moreirense was surprised by Marcelo Alves’ goal, which gave the home team the advantage on the scoreboard until the last ten minutes of the match. In the first twenty-five minutes of the second half, Paulo Alves completely changed the game, increasing the offensive fluidity of the team, as well as the volume of arrivals to the offensive last third. The team would eventually tie the game in a second ball left unopposed at the entrance of the area and finished by Kobamelo Kodisang. The Moreira de Cónegos team is now also on top of the league table.
Rating:
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be a strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average in this match
Lawrence Ofori
- Nationality: Ghanaian
- Age: 24
- Date of Birth: 28/06/1998
- Club: Moreirense FC
- Career: WAFA SC, Leixões SC, CD Feirense, FC Famalicão, FC Arouca, FC Ashdod, Moreirense FC
- Position: Central Midfielder
- Preferred Foot: Right
On loan after loan, it has been hard for Lawrence Ofori to establish himself at FC Famalicão. Even at Moreirense FC, Pedro Aparício and Gonçalo Franco cover the Ghanaian completely. In this game against CD Tondela, the midfielder entered in the second half to help turn the match complete. With him, the team had more presence in the central corridor, more acceleration and possession control near the last third. He generated fluidity in the attack, disrupting CD Tondela’s low block and generating space for the full-backs and the wingers, such as David Bruno and Kobamelo Kodisang, to appear on the outside and have the ability to produce through crosses.
Physically, Ofori does not fit the stereotype of African-born midfielders as robust. Slender from head to toe, the Moreirense FC player translates his physique on the pitch: his agility allows him to zigzag around opponents and quickly change direction and speed. Still, he manages to hold firm in the individual duels he disputes.
Offensively, it was a little bit easy to master the offensive principles: passing, progression, and rupture. Ofori took them all to the game, mainly through the pass and the rupture. Balancing the low block of CD Tondela through tense passes, he could find the spaces he wanted, and then attack them: a kind of “toco y me voy.” This way, he allowed his team to have more offensive presence, more variability in the attack, and more quality in reaching the opponent’s goal. He also managed to get opponents out of the way and choose the best option at the next moment.
Defensively, despite not having been exposed many times at that moment of the game, Lawrence Ofori showed a great capacity to react to loss and to stifle the opponent’s transition attempts. Moreover, on two occasions, he recovered defensively at high speed to prevent CD Tondela from getting close to the Moreira de Cónegos goal.
Rating – A2
As I said, Lawrence Ofori has been slow to establish himself. He goes from loan to loan but without settling in one place. He has already proven himself in the Portuguese second division, and I believe he can do the same in the first tier. Projecting him to a team of the same level as SC Braga wouldn’t be bold. It’s up to FC Famalicão to give him the best opportunities in a future return to the Minho club.