Odion Ighalo’s sensational goal for Manchester United in their 5-0 thrashing of LASK in the Europa League was worthy of a packed house at the Linzer Stadion.
Juggling the ball from right foot to left, the 30-year-old Nigeria forward then cannoned a left-footed shot in off the crossbar from 18 yards.
But instead of the roar of a crowd, all that was audible was was a thud of boot to ball and the clang of the crossbar before he was joined by his team-mates.
It was a sparkling effort unfortunately witnessed live by a smattering of people and not the wider audience it deserved due to the coronavirus outbreak restricting the attendance to just 500.
United’s substitutes even crowded around a screen in their dug out to watch it again. But then would Ighalo have even attempted it at Old Trafford?
Former United midfielder Paul Ince, suggested otherwise on BT Sport, likening it to the sort of potshot seen at training grounds when the pressure is off.
“Maybe he doesn’t do it in front of a full house,” said Ince. “It reminds me of one of those that you do at training. Maybe I’m doing a disservice to him.”
However, fellow studio guest Owen Hargreaves, was a touch more complimentary.
“It is like Tony Yeboah, it’s a thing of beauty,” he said, referencing the Ghanaian’s famous in-off-the-crossbar volley for Leeds in 1995.
“It is one of the best goals he has ever scored.”
Source: bbc.com