Not Falcao or Ibrahimovic: This Lille star is leaving Ligue 1 in awe

A broad smile swept over the Nigerian goalkeeper’s face, the banks had been breached and Vincent Enyeama’s chances of breaking a Ligue 1 record were gone. It seemed fitting that the goal should last take a touch off Lille defender Simon Kjaer before resting in the bottom corner. It should have taken a 30-yard wonder-strike or a flowing, devastating counter-attack, but in the end all it took was a speculative shot from Bordeaux midfielder Landry N’Guemo and the outstretched boot of Kjaer. At least the goalkeeper could smile about it, 1062 minutes is not exactly a bad effort, and in fact it is the second longest run in the league’s history, shame that no one will remember that in a few years.

Fitting that the goal that beat him would come at Bordeaux, former Girondins ‘keeper and current record holder Gaetan Huard was present at the Stade Chaban Delmas as Enyeama tried to take another step towards the record, rumours that he took N’Guemo out for a steak dinner afterwards are yet to be confirmed. It was only the fifth goal Lille have conceded all season, with Monaco’s late win over Ajaccio, Les Dogues move back to third, still way ahead of where they thought they would be. This is when you have to forget about record attempts and just look at the stats Enyeama has been producing. Bizarre to think that former boss Rudi Garcia let him return on loan to Hapoel Tel-Aviv last summer. Now he has signed an extension to his current contract that sees him remain in northern France till 2017. This will come as happier news than a record.

After 38 games last campaign, Lille finished with 10 clean sheets, so far they have managed 14, Nice, Reims and Bordeaux the only teams in Ligue 1 to breach the back-line. The 31-year-old is making an incredible 8.40 saves per goal, compare that to the worst defensive record in the League, Sochaux, Simon Pouplin makes 1.29 saves per goal. Even Salvatore Sirigu can’t match the Nigerian, making 3.2 saves per goal, the Italian has only conceded 10 goals, but nowhere near, Sirigu makes 3.20 saves per goal. Enyeama is head and shoulders ahead of anyone in France right now, even Europe’s finest gardien’s would struggle to keep up.

Now with the record gone and the spotlight turned away from the north, Enyeama and Lille can continue about their business, and that is some part as to why the ‘keeper was smiling.

“It was going to come and now I hope everyone can start talking about the great work the team is doing in France.

“We’ve been on a great run and hope to continue that because this team is blessed with great professionals.

“The target has always been and still is to compete and hopefully win the title. Nothing is impossible.”

When talking about the great work the Lille back-line is doing you can’t ignore Enyeama. Some of his performances have been world class. Especially in front of the LOSC faithful. Against Monaco, the threat of Falcao and James Rodriguez was very real, but Enyeama stood tall, making a wonderful double save that kept his team in front. He made seven incredible saves that night, finishing with a Squawka Performance Score of 215. Away at Montpellier he had to save a last gasp penalty from Remy Cabella to keep his clean sheet intact. Then when Marseille came to town he put in one of the best goalkeeping performances of the season, stopping everything OM had to offer, including a spectacular double save to deny Florian Thauvin and Andre-Pierre Gignac. It looked like he was truly in-Vincent-able.

No other goalkeeper comes close in Ligue 1. 14 clean sheets, averaging 2.47 saves per game, and conceding a measly 0.29 goals per game. His Squawka Performance Score currently stands at 630, 49 points higher than 2nd place Kossi Agassa and 190 points ahead of PSG’s Sirigu.

With 21 games still to be played this season there is enough time for Enyeama making another run for Gaetan Huard’s record, but as the ‘keeper said, this a team effort and the team in front of him are defending like warriors at the moment. Don’t bet against them beating Marseille’s 1991/92 record of only conceding 21 goals in a season, with Enyeama and his amazing reflexes, anything is possible.