Thomas Partey grabs own goal in ATL’s 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in Champions League
Thomas Partey was given a nod in Diego Simeone’s starting eleven against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in UEFA Champions League group D game as Atletico Madrid were shocked with a 2-1 defeat by the German outfits in Bay Arena.
The Ghana midfielder scored an own goal on the 41’ minute, and that was the goal that put Leverkusen ahead just four minutes to the end of the first half.
The Ghana midfielder has been instrumental for ATL Madrid this season, but the hard-tackling midfield couldn’t keep his nerves under control in today’s return leg, heading home after his defense had made an attempt to clear their lines.
Leverkusen whipped a corner into ATL’s penalty box for Jan Oblak to save. Charles Aranguiz re-sent a mini cross into Madrid’s six yards box but Partey rose to head home into his own net.
The Ghanaian nearly scored another own goal on the 75’ minute, but this time ATL were able to clear the ball off the line. After a goal-line technology review, the goal never stood.
Ten minutes into the second half, Leverkusen skipper Kevin Volland put his side 2-0 up, connecting home a low cross from the right flank.
These errors could have gone a long way to affect Partey but the Ghanaian midfielder got back to his best, producing a decent assist in ATL’s consolation.
He picked the ball some distance away from Leverkusen box, he suddenly changed his initial direction towards the right flank before sending Alvaro Morata through on goal at the left edge of Leverkusen box. Morata calmly buried the ball below Lukáš Hrádecký.
Partey has earned a call up to the Black Stars of Ghana and will travel to Ghana to begin preparations towards Stars games in 2021 AFCON qualifying against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe next week.
