Brazilian-born Italian international, Jorginho has been one of Chelsea’s key players so far this season.
His leadership qualities and passing have been praised but where he really stands out is his penalties.
While he may not be the most prolific goalscorer from open play, his unusual hop and skip efforts have made him one of the most feared players from 12 yards.
It was obvious that sooner or later, others would emulate this technique, to varying degrees of success.
Black Stars B player, Justice Blay discovered on Sunday just how depressing it is to be on the wrong side of that success mark.
Stepping up to take a crucial spot-kick in the shootout against Senegal in the final of the WAFU tournament, Blay channeled his inner Jorginho, ending his run-up with the familiar hop.
However, his actual effort channeled most national team players before him and was unfortunately saved by the Senegal goalkeeper, winning the match and the tournament for the hosts.
Somethings are for Jorginho only 😂 @Fentuo #sportspanorama #WafuCup2019 pic.twitter.com/Tme9HK4d6C
— Danjumah (@GafarYahaya) October 13, 2019
Blay misses against Senegal in the final
This miss was particularly disappointing as he had scored a similar penalty against Burkina Faso earlier in the competition.
🎥SUPERB: Watch Justice Blay's Jorginho-Esque Penalty for Black Stars#KotokoNews 🔴 pic.twitter.com/y4nHrR8qOC
— Asante Kotoko News 📰🗞 (@KotokoNews) October 5, 2019
Blay scored a similar penalty against Burkina Faso
While this miss might not have been the sole reason for Ghana’s loss, given the fact that he was one of three players to miss their efforts, that did not stop Ghanaians on social media from taking shots at Blay, mostly tongue-in-cheek.
Kwadaso Jorginho 😂😂😂
— Jefferson Amzaiah Dugbatey (@AmzaiahDugbatey) October 13, 2019
Justice Blay didn’t hop, skip and shoot, he jumped and shoot😂
— Saga (@Saga_Richy) October 13, 2019
Ah “Justice Blay ” paaaa pic.twitter.com/0ksb6ZMGJC
— SEY (@wofasenyo) October 13, 2019
So Justice Blay Justice Blay nu, saa na even fake Jorginho…
😂😂😂😂..
#WafuCup2019— Justice ‘Jorginho’ Blay (@QQuaynor) October 13, 2019
Where Jorginho dey,make he come see something😆😆 ..Justice Blay paa #WafuCup2019
— Stretch Marks 🖤🖤 (@nana_senne1) October 14, 2019
This Justice Blay huh, he make lucky paa say most Ghanaians no follow this #WafuCup2019 anka they’ll insult the Jorginho life from him 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZeSPZJiXvD
— KAREN’s EX (@CabumJay) October 13, 2019
no be small Jorginho hop Justice Blay go do.
wey he spoil am😂😂😂😂😂😂😂— Ξ Δ C Η Y (@_eachy_) October 13, 2019
Justice Blay’s penalty be worse pass. The most horrible penalty I have seen
— Abusuapanin 🇬🇭 (@abusuaaa) October 13, 2019
Some people were more forgiving of the player who had been one of Ghana’s best at the WAFU tournament.
Justice Blay scored with the same technique in the last shootout but nobody talked about it. Everyone is only interested in the negatives because it will trend and give you retweets.
— Clinton Al-harazi Eleto (@ClintonSpel) October 13, 2019
People will doubt Justice blay but he gave his all in this tournament.
— Ade -Wale (@QuakuWale) October 13, 2019
When Justice Blay scored the same Jorginho-esque penalty against Burkina Faso to send Ghana into the semi-finals of the #WAFU2019 we all praised him. Let’s not be quick to question his style once it has failed.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@owuraku_ampofo) October 13, 2019
Justice Blay had a very good game yesterday. I agree to a certain extent his approach to the penalty could’ve been different looking at the “Situation” (Deciding kick), but the insults on him are uncalled for. He’s a good player, he’ll learn from his mistakes.
— Daniel Bioh (@Biodan_) October 14, 2019
Others felt that this penalty loss was just another in an overly-long list for Ghana’s teams at major tournaments, something that needs to be addressed.
The coaches must start doing a lot of work on penalties it’s costing us trophies
— Eddy Grey (@EddyGrey7) October 13, 2019
Ghana dier dem take penalty curse we
— Blak boy (@blakboygh) October 13, 2019
Fans of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, the club Blay plays for, have come out in defence of their star man but of course, supporters of rivals Hearts of Oak could not pass up a chance to troll this faux pas.
Joseph Essoh, a Hearts of Oak player equalize for the Blackstars B and Justice Jorginho Blay, a Kotoko player missed the penalty in a grand style to make lose the cup. Mediocre team with Mediocre players #WafuCup2019 #GhanaJorginho
— Hazardson (@mrhazardson) October 13, 2019
Kotoko has done it again lol herrr justice blay 🙆🏿♂️
— is-eu (@Alhassa41454423) October 13, 2019
Miles away in Italy though, the ‘master’ Joorginho showed just how it’s done
Ice cold penalty from Chelsea’s Jorginho #ITAGRE
— Rnjn (@IAMRnjn) October 12, 2019