Solomon Asante Explained

Solomon Asante
Fullname:Solomon Asante
Birth Date:6 March 1990[1]
Birth Place:Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana
Height:[2]
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Las Vegas Lights
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:–2007
Youthclubs1:Feyenoord Ghana
Years1:2007–2009
Clubs1:Feyenoord Ghana
Caps1:66
Goals1:12
Years2:2009–2011
Clubs2:ASFA Yennenga
Caps2:57
Goals2:39
Years3:2011–2013
Clubs3:Berekum Chelsea
Caps3:70
Goals3:21
Years4:2013–2017
Clubs4:TP Mazembe
Caps4:17
Goals4:4
Years5:2018–2021
Clubs5:Phoenix Rising
Caps5:107
Goals5:54
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:Indy Eleven
Caps6:58
Goals6:3
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalteam1:Burkina Faso
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012–
Nationalteam2:Ghana
Nationalcaps2:21
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:20 March 2024
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Las Vegas Lights
Caps7:2
Goals7:0

Solomon Asante (born 6 March 1990) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a winger for USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights. With Phoenix Rising FC, he was named the 2019 and 2020 USL Championship Most Valuable Player (MVP).[3] [4] With Indy Eleven, Asante became the first player in USL Championship history to record 50 career goals and career assists.[5]

Early life

Born in Ghana to Ghanaian parents,[6] Asante started his career at the Ghanaian club Feyenoord Ghana, where he played until 2009.

Club career

ASFA Yennenga

Asante joined Burkinabé club ASFA Yennenga from Feyenoord Ghana, at the beginning of the 2009–2010 season.[7] In his second season with ASFA Yennenga he won the 2010–2011 Burkinabé Premier League, 2010–2011 top-goalscorer and was also the 2009–2010 Burkinabé Premier League top-goalscorer with 14 goals.[8] He spent two season's with ASFA Yennenga.

Berekum Chelsea

Asante signed for Ghanaian Ghana Premier League club Berekum Chelsea at the beginning of the 2011–12 Ghana Premier League season.[9] [7]

TP Mazembe

Asante joined Congolese Ligue 1 club TP Mazembe in 2013. Asante departed the club in December 2017 following the expiration of his contract.[10]

Phoenix Rising FC

Asante signed with Phoenix Rising FC of the United Soccer League on 21 December 2017.[11] Asante left on 1 February 2022, after leading the club to two USL Championship Finals and the Regular Season Title in 2019. He was team captain for three of his four seasons.[12]

Indy Eleven

On 11 April 2022, it was announced that Asante had signed with USL Championship side Indy Eleven.[13] Asante scored his first goal for Indy Eleven on 23 July 2022 in a 1–1 draw with Memphis 901 FC. The goal was Asante's 50th goal in the USL Championship.[14] Asante ended the 2022 season playing 25 league matches, scoring one goal and notching six assists.[15]

Asante remained with Indy Eleven for the 2023 season, starting in the team's season opening 1–1 draw away to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on 11 March.[16] Asante received his first yellow card of the season the following week in a 1–0 away win over Detroit City FC on 25 March.[17] Asante scored his first goal of the season in a 2–3 home loss to Monterrey Bay FC on 22 April.[18]

Asante became the first player in USL Championship history to total 50 career goals and 50 career assists on 9 August 2023 in a 4–0 home win over Birmingham Legion.[19] In the same game, Asante tallied three assists in a single game for the third time in his USL Championship career.[20]

Asante ended the season with two goals and six assists in 33 league games.[15] Asante made one appearance in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, substituting on in the 46th minute for Alann Torres in a 3–1 home win over NISA side Michigan Stars FC on 5 April.[21]

Asante departed the club at the end of the 2023 season, totaling 59 league and cup games and 3 goals over two years.[22]

Las Vegas Lights FC

USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights FC announced the signing of Asante on 23 February 2024, ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season.[23] Asante made his first appearance for the Las Vegas-based side on 9 March, replacing Edison Azcona in the 55th minute in a 2–1 away loss to Memphis 901 FC.[24] Asante made his first start for the Lights in a 3–1 home loss to FC Tulsa on 16 March.[25]

International career

He made his debut for Burkina Faso against South Africa at Ellis Park on 8 August 2011 in an international friendly.[26] He scored his first goal for Burkina Faso in the 87th minute scoring one goal. In November 2011, he dropped from the national team to join his home country Ghana. He scored a goal against England on 22 September 2011 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow the game final score 6–1 Solomon helped the team advance to face Germany but he suffered an injury.

Ghana national team

On 16 May 2012, Asante was called up to the Ghana squad for two 2014 World Cup qualification matches against Lesotho and Zambia but was later dropped[27] due to concerns over his eligibility to play for Ghana.[28] Asante has since been cleared to play for Ghana.[29]

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonDivisionLeagueDomestic CupOtherTotals
AppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2018USL3614900414015
2019USL C34221710203722
2020178900322010
20212610700002610
Club Totals1135442109312357
Indy Eleven2022USL C25160000251
202333261000342
Club Totals583121000593
Las Vegas Lights2024USL C200000020
Club Totals200000020
Career Total1735754209318460

Honours

ASFA Yennenga

Phoenix Rising

Individual

Records

Notes and References

  1. https://www.phxrisingfc.com/solomonasante
  2. http://www.tpmazembe.com/en/team/squad/salomon-asante-wiafe Solomon Asante – TP Mazembe
  3. Web site: USLChampionship.com Staff. 2019-11-21. Phoenix's Asante Named 2019 Championship Most Valuable Player. 2020-01-06. USL Championship. United Soccer League. en-us.
  4. Web site: USLChampionship.com Staff. 2020-11-06. Phoenix's Solomon Asante Voted 2020 Championship Most Valuable Player. 2020-11-12. USL Championship. United Soccer League. en-us.
  5. Web site: Solomon Asante and Aodhan Quinn complete the 50/50 split . 2024-02-23 . Indy Eleven . en-US.
  6. Web site: GFA ponders Asante's fate. Gary Al-Smith. supersport.com. SuperSport. 27 May 2012. 2 June 2012.
  7. https://www.thefinalball.com/jogador.php?id=232689 Solomon Asante Wiafe
  8. News: Solomon Asante. Soccerway . 2 June 2012.
  9. Web site: Midfielder Solomon Asante Gets Late Black Stars Call-up . Berekum Chelsea F.C.. May 2012 . 2 June 2012.
  10. Web site: 2017-12-27 . TP Mazembe pay tributes to Solomon Asante, Yaw Frimpong . 2024-01-25 . GhanaWeb . en.
  11. Web site: Ghanaian International Solomon Asante Joins Phoenix Rising. Phoenix Rising FC. 21 December 2017. 21 December 2017.
  12. Web site: Solomon Asante Departs Phoenix, But Leaves Lasting Legacy . Murray . Nicholas . uslchampionship.com . 1 February 2022.
  13. Web site: Indy inks two-time USL Championship MVP Solomon Asante. 11 April 2022.
  14. Web site: USLC RECAP IND 1:1 MEM . 2024-02-07 . Indy Eleven . en-US.
  15. Web site: Solomon Asanté Career Stats - USLC . 2024-02-07 . ESPN . en.
  16. Web site: Recap - TBR 1:1 IND . 2024-02-07 . Indy Eleven . en-US.
  17. Web site: Indy Eleven 1-0 Detroit City FC (Mar 25, 2023) Final Score . 2024-02-07 . ESPN . en.
  18. Web site: Recap - IND 2:3 MB . 2024-02-07 . Indy Eleven . en-US.
  19. Web site: Solomon Asante and Aodhan Quinn complete the 50/50 split . 2024-02-07 . Indy Eleven . en-US.
  20. Web site: Recap – IND 4:0 BHM . 2024-02-07 . Indy Eleven . en-US.
  21. Web site: INDvsMCS 04-05-2023 Lineups . MLSsoccer.com . 2024-02-07 . en.
  22. Web site: February 1, 2024 . Ghanaian winger Solomon Asante departs USL Championship club Indy Eleven . February 7, 2024 . GHANAsoccernet.com.
  23. Web site: USL Championship legend Solomon Asante leads trio of new Las Vegas Lights FC signings . 2024-02-23 . Las Vegas Lights FC . en-US.
  24. Web site: Memphis 901 FC 2-1 Las Vegas Lights FC (Mar 9, 2024) Final Score . 2024-03-21 . ESPN . en.
  25. Web site: FC Tulsa 3-1 Las Vegas Lights FC (Mar 16, 2024) Final Score . 2024-03-21 . ESPN . en.
  26. Web site: South Africa vs. Burkina Faso 3 – 0. Soccerway. 26 May 2012.
  27. Web site: Ghana names final squad for Lesotho, Zambia . Ghana Football Association. 26 May 2012. 2 June 2012.
  28. Web site: GFA seeks FIFA clarification over Asante eligibility . Ghana Football Association. 26 May 2012. 2 June 2012.
  29. Web site: Striker Asante warns Ghana over his future. Africasoccernet.com. 26 May 2012. 2 June 2012. 15 February 2013. https://archive.today/20130215121928/http://www.africasoccernet.com/striker-asante-warns-ghana-over-his-future/. dead.
  30. Web site: Gyamera-Antwi. Evans. 28 May 2017. Asante named 2016 SWAG Player of the Year. 13 December 2021. Goal.
  31. Web site: Anderson. Jake. 21 November 2019. Phoenix Rising's Solomon Asante wins 2019 USL Championship MVP. 21 November 2019. arizonasports.com.
  32. Web site: 6 November 2020. Solomon Asante Becomes First Back-to-Bank USL MVP. 6 November 2020. Phoenix Rising Communications.
  33. Web site: 5 November 2018. 2018 USL All-League Teams Revealed. 13 December 2021. USLSoccer.com Staff.
  34. Web site: USLChampionship com Staff. 2019-11-12. USL Championship Announces 2019 All-League Teams. 2020-08-20. USL Championship. en-us.
  35. Web site: 21 October 2019. Phoenix's Asante Earns Golden Boot, Assists Champion Award. 21 October 2019. USLChampionship Staff.
  36. Web site: Taiwo 11 Oct 2019. Taiye. 11 October 2019. Ghana star Solomon Asante scoops four awards at Phoenix Rising Goal.com. 13 December 2021. Goal.
  37. Web site: Rising Recap – Rising keep record win streak going with 4–2 victory, Solomon Asante sets club record for career goals. Olafson. Ole. Northeast Valley News. 18 August 2019. 2019-08-18.
  38. Web site: Solomon Asante becomes USL first player to register 17 assists – Kickgh.com. kickgh.com.
  39. Web site: Solomon Asante Named USL Player of the Month. Phoenix Rising Communications. 2019-09-12. Phoenix Rising FC. en-us. 2020-01-07.