By: Connor Mahoney, Indy Eleven Communications
No player in the USL Championship had accomplished the 50 goal, 50 assist career record until midfielder Solomon Asante achieved this feat after a three-assist performance against Birmingham Legion on August 9, 2023. After the three assists, Asante’s career totals moved to 51 goals and 52 assists. According to Asante, he knew he was close, but he was not focusing on the 50/50 split.
“Every player will be happy to achieve those records,” Asante said. “Yes, I knew I was close… there was a time I even forgot, because it was taking [some] time for me to get to 50…But when I got the 50, it was Aodhan [Quinn] who told me, ‘He was like, you are [at] 50 goals and 50 assists.’”
Midfielder Aodhan Quinn joined Asante one game later by achieving his 50/50 split. On August 12, 2023, Quinn tallied his 50th assist against The Miami FC with 53 goals and 50 assists.
“It took a while for that last assist for me to get but it’s [a] pretty cool accomplishment,” Quinn said. “I think when I retire… and [I will] think that it was a good accomplishment. But right now, it’s cool, I think it’s helping the team, which is the most important thing. So, I’m happy with that.”
With both 50/50 splits occurring simultaneously, Asante and Quinn have acknowledged that sharing something between the two of them is something to be proud of. Quinn said that being in a record book next to Asante’s name is something special.
“I think it’s awesome to see [Asante], get it first; I think if you see what he’s done in the league over the last few years, it’s incredible,” Quinn said. “So, I’ve always said if you’re in a group with [Asante] and in with records, or goals or assists, you’re doing something right, so I’m happy to join him. Even playing against him, I always thought he was such a good player. It’s an honor to play with him now and continue that. So, he makes the game a lot easier for me. And I think that’s why I’ve gotten into the 50/50s is because I got to play with him.”
As of this story’s release time, Asante currently sits in second in all-time assists for the USL Championship regular season. Along with Asante, Quinn is fourth on the assist list for the USL Championship regular season. In addition, Quinn is first in minutes played in the regular season of the USL Championship. While already holding records in the league, Asante said that he expects to see Quinn continuing to do more throughout his career.
“He’s one of my best friends [and a] very good player,” Asante said. “… He’s going to do more… he has more years than me, and I know he’s going to achieve more.”
Growing up, Quinn said falling in love with the game came easily. Having ties to the sport already, Quinn started playing the game as soon as possible.
“I’m the youngest of six kids and then my dad was a professional player and professional coach,” Quinn said. “So, I was kind of born into the sport. Obviously, I grew into loving it. I was always at my brothers’ and sisters’ games and then also my dad’s games, so I just loved it from when I was young. And I still do, I still enjoy it every single day, whether it’s training or games. So, I’m the luckiest guy in the world to be able to do something I love every single day and get paid for it.”
Unlike Quinn, Asante grew up as one of the only ones to take the sport seriously. Therefore, Asante said he picked up the game playing at school then through academy.
“I think I’m the only player who plays soccer, in my family…,” Asante said. “I started playing for my school. And then later on, there was this academy… And so they came to Ghana, and they only had the academy in Ghana. So that’s where I joined, I was pretty young, I think the year 2000. And then that’s where I started. So, I was there for a while, like four months and then I [would] go home for like vacation two weeks and then come back.”
Coming to the USL Championship in 2018, Asante was recruited by Didier Drogba to play at Phoenix Rising. Asante said he played against Drogba while he was playing for Ghana.
I played against [Drogba] in [my] national team, so he called me and he’s like, he wants me to join him [at Phoneix…,]” Asante said. “I had the experience, so doesn’t matter where you go when you play when you have experience when you understand the game you get where you want to be.”
According to Asante, his experience in the league has helped him to where he is today. For Quinn, the 50/50 split achievement has been seen as a means to help the team in any way to win.
“[The goal is] what’s best to benefit the team, so, like penalty kicks for example, I feel confident in those,” Quinn said. “And I know that if I can score them, it’s going to help the team get goals and hopefully win games because of that. Then minutes played and games played and all is just being available [for games] and having the trust of the coach and the trust of the teammates to be able to play and get picked for most of the games that I’m available.”
Acknowledging the broken records, Quinn said that he wants to thank all of those who have helped him along the way.
“I’ll just say thank you to [Asante] obviously, I think he’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with,” Quinn said. “So that’s great. I continue to play with him. Thanks to all the coaches I played for. And then also thanks to [the] trainers and the physios because without them I don’t think I’d be on the field very much.”
Additionally, Asante said he is grateful for the help his Indy Eleven teammates provided him along the way.
“I would thank everyone, thank my teammate, [Quinn], he has always been on my neck, pushing me, helping me to be better trying to give me the best,” Asante said. “So I thank him very much… [thank you to] the coaches because they are also doing their best for us… and then our teammates and our families.”
