READING, UK — Canada international midfielder Ismael Kone made his debut for Watford on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to Reading in an FA Cup third round tie in England.
READING, UK — Canada international midfielder Ismael Kone made his debut for Watford on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to Reading in an FA Cup third round tie in England.
Kone played the full 90 minutes in the second tier English Championship teams match.
Both goals came in stoppage time with Kelvin Abrefa scoring late in the first half and Shane Long in the 93rd minute.
Kone showed his speed and vision in the 73rd minute at Select Car Leasing Stadium when he sped up to intercept a ball in midfield. He drove towards the Reading goal and found a team-mate whose weak shot was stopped by the Reading keeper.
Fellow Canada international Junior Hoilett did not dress for Reading.
At 20, Kone was the youngest member of Canada’s World Cup team. He has nine caps for Canada and appeared in all three games in Qatar.
At the beginning of December, he left CF Montreal and signed a four and a half year contract with Watford.
Kone was named Canada Soccer’s Young Player of the Year for 2022. Born in Ivory Coast, he grew up in Montreal.
Before kick-off on Saturday, the announced crowd of 7,954 watched a minute of applause in tribute to former Watford manager Gianluca Vialli, who died this week aged 58.
Watford hosts Blackpool next Saturday in the league.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on January 7, 2023.
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