In an even game, in terms of chances, SC Braga’s secondary team and the historic Varzim SC met to kick off Liga 3, just as they did last season. The team from Póvoa started on top and took the lead before the ten-minute mark through João Fernandes who, after combining with his team-mates from outside the box, finished with a shot. Custódio’s team still tried to react but never caused Ricardo Nunes any significant trouble.
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
Luís Asué
- Nationality: Equatorial Guinean
- Age: 22
- Date of Birth: 09/07/2001
- Club: SC Braga
- Career: Cano Sport Academy and SC Braga
- Position: Forward
- Preferred Foot: Left
Luís Asué’s match against Varzim SC lacked goals. However, it was rounded off by many interesting details that could take the young man from Equatorial Guinea to the next level in the future. Even so, it is worth emphasising that he was never served in favourable conditions for more consistent finishing.
At the game, Asué’s physique emerged as one of the main elements to highlight: tall and morphologically ectomorphic, the Sporting Clube de Braga player showed an interesting profile for the position he occupied. In addition, his long legs allowed him to move at a good speed. We can also add the fact that he is strong at protecting the ball – he protects it, spins around on the opponent, and then either accelerates forward or tends to throw the ball into space for another team-mate – and plays aerial balls.
From an attacking point of view, Luís Asué stood out for the various weapons he brought to the game. During the seventy-five minutes he was on the pitch, Asué never tried to get too far down the opposing midfielders’ backs to help shape the play. However, he was able to anchor the defensive line and, when activated as a support, activate a third man and attack deep with aggression. Inside the area, the young forward proved to be intelligent: he constantly attacked the blind side of defenders, added a good dose of mobility, and showed a strong ability to attack the first post, anticipating defenders several times. There was also something special about the player’s running speed: it is low but highly effective.
Defensively, Asué did not show an elevated level of aggressiveness in his pressing, which was done from the inside out, to close the centre-back’s passing lines with the ball to the other centre-back and the defensive midfielder. However, this pressing was not always well executed. Asué did not stand out in these moments, as coach Custódio only asked his forward to close the centre-back line in a zonal fashion.
Rating – A2
The shelf Luís Asué finds himself on is suitable for the performance shown so far by the forward from Equatorial Guinea. However, the potential he showed against Varzim SC could take him to the next level. Initially, a move to SC Braga’s first team would be ideal for him to acclimatise to a highly competitive level. From then on, only Asué’s performance can dictate his future, which I believe could lie in the mid-table teams of the main European leagues.