Didier Drogba scored on his debut for USL side Phoenix Rising on Saturday night.
Remarkably, the 39-year-old is both player and co-owner of the club. He also captained the Arizona-based team, who he joined in April, as they beat Whitecaps FC II 2-1.
Drogba opened the scoring after 40 minutes when he headed past the Whitecaps goalkeeper.
Didier Drogba scores on his debut for Phoenix Rising FC! ?
(?: @USL) pic.twitter.com/SF4xmdbGX7— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 11, 2017
Whitecaps got an equaliser through a Marco Bustos penalty in the 68th minute.
Drogba would not be denied the win on his debut. In the 77th minute, he found former Chelsea teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips on the edge of the box. The now 35-year-old found the bottom corner with a right-footed strike.
.@didierdrogba to @swp29 = @PHXRisingFC GOAL!#PHXvVAN pic.twitter.com/yNv2Vh5k5j
— USL (@USL) June 11, 2017
After the game, Drogba dedicated the win to his sadly deceased fellow Ivorian Cheick Tiote.
The former Newcastle player passed away during the week while training with Chinese side Beijing Enterprises.
Droga wrote on Instagram:
New chapter, new Team, new friends, the game is still beautiful.
I wanna dedicate this win to Cheick Tiote who passed away a few days ago while doing what he loved, playing football. My thoughts and condolences to his family.
