“What does a soccer captain do?” you typed into the search engine named Google. Here’s your answer in the form of 23-year-old Newcastle United center back Jamaal Lascelles. The Englishman skippered Newcastle’s return to the Premier League, and now he’s earned the Magpies a vital victory over Swansea City with a heartfelt block and buccaneering header.
Back-to-back victories for Newcastle see them climb to 10th in the table, above Arsenal on goal difference. With Rafa Benitez home on the couch following hernia surgery, the 1-0 victory over Swansea was secured thanks to the gaffer’s passion personified — Jamaal Lascelles.
Jamaal Lascelles' game by numbers vs. Swansea:
100% tackles won
10 clearance
2 interceptions
1 clean sheet
1 goalA captain's display. Ⓒ pic.twitter.com/cT048XF64M
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 10, 2017
On the hour mark, Swansea should’ve taken the advantage but Lascelles denied Tammy Abraham on the goal line. Captain.
What a block for @NUFC! 0-0 pic.twitter.com/sgICUWnE7c
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 10, 2017
16 minutes later the 6’3’’ center back rose highest on a Matt Ritchie corner to thump a header past Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski. Leader.
A thumping, buccaneering header puts @NUFC in front! Look how high Lascelles jumps! pic.twitter.com/IxxnUq22wX
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 10, 2017
And that’s what a soccer captain does. They heavily influence the game by virtue of being Legend.