Two years ago this week, Ademola Lookman stepped up to take a 98th minute penalty with Fulham chasing a last-gasp equaliser away from home at London rivals West Ham United. What happened next will go down in Premier League folklore, and for all the wrong reasons.
Lookman opted, famously, for the Panenka. He probably wished he hadn’t. Because, as Lukasz Fabianski stayed on his feet and gathered the most tragic and misguided of spot-kicks with minimal fuss, the expression on Lookman’s face said more than words ever could. A look of regret. A look of bare-faced guilt; a man who knew what he’d done and wished he could turn back the clock.
But, though it is no consolation to a Fulham side who went on to be relegated that season, the Nigeria international has, at least, learned from his mistake. He was not about to let history repeat itself when the referee pointed to the spot during Atalanta’s top-of-the-table clash with Serie A rivals Napoli recently.
Lookman, leaving nothing to chance this time, lashed his shot into the top corner of the net. If that perplexing Panenka against West Ham was a perfect example of everything not to do when you’re given a high-pressure spot-kick, then the one he fired in off the bar against Napoli was precisely the opposite.
Ademola Lookman shining in Serie A with Atalanta
With that, Lookman also became the quickest player in Atalanta’s history to hit the six-goal mark so soon after arriving; breaking a record previously held by compatriot Ayodele Makinwa. It’s taken him just 13 games to achieve such a feet, while also providing a further three assists.
“He did not show signs of initial struggles. He’s settling in well at the club,” Makinwa tells PUNCH; hailing a man who failed to make the grade at Everton and endured hit-and-miss spells at Fulham and Leicester City before settling, at last, in Bergamo.
“I’m confident he will set a new goalscoring record at the club. He is very prolific and he is becoming a fantastic buy for the club.”
Only Victor Osimhen and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia have more goals and assists combined in Serie A this season than Ademola Lookman.
Now, the 25-year-old’s career has had it’s fair share of false starts. But, as Lookman exercised the ghosts of the London Stadium from 12 yards out against Napoli, it was impossible not to feel that the penny has finally dropped.
“It’s a fairly similar way of playing,” Lookman, benefitting from his new, central role, tells DAZN. “I adapt and do what the coach and the team ask of me. (My current form) is thanks to the team, which allows me to score.”
Atalanta CEO Umberto Marino, meanwhile, beleives Lookman can only improve under iconic head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. A scary thought for Serie A defences everywhere.
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