Mali powerhouse Ousseynou Cisse stands at six-foot-five but still evaded QPR defence to fire MK Dons into FA Cup fourth round
- Ousseynou Cisse scored only goal of game for MK Dons away at Loftus Road
- Mali powerhouse danced his way towards goal, curling an effort into the corner
- He shone at both ends with a dominant and disciplined performance
- Cisse now has sights set on facing big Premier League team in next round
Standing at six-foot-five, it is difficult to miss MK Dons and Mali powerhouse Ousseynou Cisse.
But the 26-year-old summer signing from Tours somehow evaded the clutches of Queens Park Rangers on Saturday to dance his way towards goal, curling his first - and what proved to be the winning - goal past Alex Smithies.
Born and raised in Suresnes, a small town six miles outside of Paris, Cisse is a player who has seen his career-to-date unwind largely in the French second division where the spotlight rarely shines so bright.
Ousseynou Cisse's solo goal ensured QPR suffered their 49th FA Cup third round defeat
Yet in his first taste of the FA Cup, he shone at both ends with a dominant and disciplined performance and is now dreaming of a battle against one of the Premier League giants in round four.
‘I don’t care but I want a big team,’ the midfielder said.
‘Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal or Tottenham, just a big team.’
And who could blame him for wanting to go toe-to-toe in central midfield with this country’s finest players? Similar in physique to Paul Pogba, the spotlight would shine even brighter if he turned match-winner against a top team.
Cisse made his way into the home penalty area unchallenged before bending in the winner
For MK Dons boss Robbie Neilson however, the club’s biggest game of the season is back in League One this weekend when fierce rivals AFC Wimbledon visit for a relegation battle.
‘Everyone is happy and it is great that we are through but the big game for us is Wimbledon,’ Neilson admitted.
‘We want to go as far as we can but with the realisation that the league is the main one for us.’
As for the toppled QPR, there is nothing magical about the FA Cup for them.
Ian Holloway's QPR have dropped to new depths after their FA Cup defeat by MK Dons
Without a third round win at the first time of asking in 22 years, the Hoops are closing in on having the worst third round record in the competition’s history as their 49th defeat leaves them one behind Plymouth Argyle.
Despite the losing record piling up and being out of the cup for another year, QPR boss Ian Holloway insists life is about keeping the belief.
‘(QPR) can win the cup but we’ve got to wait until next year now,’ Holloway said.
‘For me growing up, in the FA Cup you believed you could beat them. You believed you could have your day in the sun and please don’t stop believing that.’
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