Junior Firpo has been doing Junior Firpo things on international duty again.
Given that the Leeds United fullback plays for the Dominican Republic, then you can’t exactly stick a player of that calibre in the back four, especially when he is your most high-profile and best player.
From playing as a centre-forward to playing as a right-sided winger, Firpo plays everywhere for his country and it was no different when his team faced Antigua and Barbuda in the CONCACAF Nations League on Saturday.
To nobody’s surprise, Firpo netted a brace, both of them were very late goals, including dinking the opposition goalkeeper for his penalty as the Dominican Republic ran out comfortable 5-0 winners.
In terms of mood, it’s a sea change to what Firpo had to witness and go through just before he jetted off for national duty.
Leeds recorded a 2-2 draw against Sunderland, with Daniel Farke’s side putting in a sterling performance, heading for the three points, only for Illan Meslier to produce the howler of all howlers right at the death.
Firpo was visibly annoyed after the full-time whistle, as he stormed down the tunnel, even if the rest of his teammates tried to console their shotstopper.
Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because the 28-year-old witnessed yet another goalkeeping howler on national duty.
Junior Firpo helps the Dominican Republic beat Antigua and Barbuda 5-0
After making a fast start and racing into a 1-0 lead, the away side were pressing again when Firpo was put through on goal and he seemed to lose his balance in the penalty area and fall over.
Newport County goalkeeper Nick Townsend then had all the time in the world to pick the ball up, but instead, he grasped at thin air, watched the ball hit his own teammate, land in the pathway of the on-rushing Dorny Romero and he bundled the ball home.
If you thought Meslier’s mistake against Sunderland was bad, then this howler, as you can see after 50 seconds in the video below, is far worse, as posted by Concacaf’s Twitter page.
Firpo witnessed it all unfold and he just sat on his knees, put his hands on his hips and got up slowly. At least he can laugh at this one!
Junior Firpo an underrated cog in Leeds United’s promotion wheel
Leeds still have the dark cloud of the Championship play-off final defeat over their heads, but in the year 2024, Firpo has been outstanding for the team and an underrated figure.
You wonder if he can score more goals given how he goes about things, but he is performing at a high level.
Farke knows that it’s promotion or bust this season, and whilst he has had to deal with injuries in the middle of the park already, he needs a player like Firpo fit for the rest of the campaign.
If that happens, then those chances of, not earning promotion, but securing an automatic spot increase in big ways.
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