Spot-kick hero revels in audacious effort
It is the type of penalty you expect from someone like Andrea Pirlo.
But Yassin Moutaouakil displayed nerves of steel to score from the spot at Torquay.
Lee Mansell’s miss gave him the chance to send Pompey into the second round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
And the French full-back did exactly that by chipping a delicate shot straight down the middle.
Moutaouakil said: “It was a cool penalty. That was for the other players, the staff and the fans and I’m glad it went in.
“The most important thing is that we won the game and we’re in the next stage of the competition.
“It was something I’ve wanted to do for a while and I thought that I had to do it before the end of my career.
“I finally got the chance and I was the fifth penalty taker, so it was perfect for me. I put it in and we won.”
Moutaouakil hopes the result will give him – and Pompey – a boost ahead of this weekend’s trip to Cheltenham.
He said: “I needed that. Individually my performances could have been better, but hopefully that will give me confidence.
“Now I’m looking forward to Saturday and want to be the best player on the pitch and, I’m not afraid to say, the best right-back in the league.
“It’s going to be a tough game, but with the confidence we have gained by winning with a clean sheet, hopefully we can win the game.”