Town defender unsurprised by the quality of his strike against Millwall
Hatters’ match-winning Teden Mengi scored the game’s sole goal during Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Millwall, and his elegant style of play did not surprise him. Ten minutes had passed in the match at the Den when Town launched an attack down the left after Elijah Adebayo found Tahith Chong. Joe Bryan, the full back for the Lions, diverted Chong’s cross and headed it away at the far post. Alfie Doughty was the next to try, but home stopper Lukas Jensen’s legs stopped his ferocious drive. Marvelous Nakamba won the rebound and found himself just outside the box, with Mengi skulking behind him.
The fully-formed midfielder decided to find Liam Walsh instead, and the full-debutant quickly set up Luton’s center half, who calmly but firmly passed the ball into the net from 20 yards out, stopping Jensen in his tracks to score the Hatters’ first goal of the Championship this year and his first goal of the season.
Mengi, who rose through the ranks at Manchester United, believed he was capable of such a finish even though it wasn’t the kind of strike you would often associate with a center half, saying: “I’ve got that in my locker.” I’m pleased that I finally got to perform it on the pitch on a Saturday because I practice it frequently in training. Nakamba chose to give it to someone else even though I truly wanted it from him first. Nevertheless, Walshy recognized my opportunity and I took the shot.
Mengi nearly had a second as well, latching onto the falling ball and trying to score with his left foot this time, only for Jensen to make a wonderful low save to his right. This time, the corner was headed up rather than out. The defender said, “I did (come close), with the swinger,” showing that he didn’t worry too much given that Town did enough to keep their hosts out and guarantee that they resumed winning ways.
“I believed it went in, so I actually started celebrating already. However, it was a stellar shift from the team. We achieved the necessary three points and maintained a spotless record. We can move past our poor start to the league today and are thrilled with the team for the three points we were able to secure following the international break.
Manager Rob Edwards also wasn’t that shocked to see Mengi, who had one senior goal to his name, that another good finish from closer range in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace last term, find the net in such style, saying: “I thought it was a really good goal, I thought the move and everything beforehand, to get to the position and have a big chance was really good.
Then we smothered it well, a couple of quick passes and Teden’s finish was excellent. It was a really calm finish and at that moment I thought we could really try and take the game away from them, but it wasn’t to be. It’s good, he’s a good player and he does score one or two in training, but don’t tell him I said that.
Meanwhile, team-mate Marvelous Nakamba, who had a big part to play in the goal, was definitely impressed with the quality applied by Mengi, adding: “What a finish from Teden. He was even asking for it before I passed it to Walshy, he said he wanted to smash it direct, then after he curled it like a striker. It was a good goal. It was pleasing and to come here and win here. I remember last season my first time to come here and drew, then today we came and we won. I think it’s good for us as we needed this win before the game.”
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