Goal.com Player Of The Day: Mark Paston - New Zealand

By Stefan Coerts
Jun 21, 2010 9:30:00 AM

Welcome to Goal.com's new World Cup feature: Goal.com Player of the Day. Each day a candidate will be put forward, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for achieving something special. It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not usually - but whoever we nominate will have done something amazing. It might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question deserves special attention...

Goal.com Player of the Day #10: Mark Paston
Club: Wellington Phoenix
Country: New Zealand
Age: 33
Role: Goalkeeper
Achievement: Played the key role in his side's 1-1 draw against Italy

The 33 year-old is New Zealand’s second choice goalkeeper and was only playing as Glen Moss was serving the fourth and final match of a suspension picked up in qualification.

The Wellington Phoenix man couldn’t stop Vincenzo Iaquinta’s spot kick after 29 minutes of the Group F contest, but he stopped everything else.

A flying one-handed save from a fierce Riccardo Montolivo shot in the second half was one of the best blocks of the tournament so far, but was just the most spectacular tip of a super-solid goalkeeping iceberg.

Congratulations to Mark, Goal.com's 10th Player of the Day



Other worthy mentions go to...

Luis Fabiano - Brazil
There are huge question marks over his second goal, but he looked like the man of old as he clinically finished on both occasions. If he continues like this he could be in for a big, big tournament.

Felipe Melo - Brazil
Battled superbly in midfield to break up countless Cote d’Ivoire attacks as they got on top in the first half. Less involved when Brazil got on top, but then that’s not really in his job description.

Enrique Vera - Paraguay
Ever active in the centre of the midfield, the Atlas player was the pick of the Paraguayans. Pressed his opponents into telling areas and contributed effectively in an attacking manner, scoring a goal with a wonderfully taken finish. Might have had a second after the break but pushed his header wide.


http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/06/21/1987199/world-cup-2010-goalcom-player-of-the-day-mark-paston-new