In Matchday 13 of this 2023/2024 English Premier League Season, Manchester United took on Everton at Goodison Park, and Alejandro Garnacho, 19-year-old Argentine winger for the visiting Red Devils, gave fans a lifetime treat by scoring arguably one of the best goals anyone will ever see in a football match seconds into the game. The teenage player delivered an acrobatic overhead kick finish to give Manchester United the opening goal and first lead of the match, allowing his team to bag all three points from enemy territory with a resounding score line of 3-0 at the end.
How Did the Overhead Kick Happen?
United met the Toffees for their first match after the final international break of 2023, and 133 seconds were what they needed to break the deadlock of this Matchday 13 fixture. Victor Lindelöf sent an amazing long ball to Marcus Rashford at the right flank, before the England international fed the ball to the charging Diogo Dalot, who then crossed it first time. His cross was met by Alejandro Garnacho‘s scissor move and ended in the back of the net to Jordan Pickford’s left. The young Alejandro Garnacho even mimicked the “SIUUU” and “I”m Here” celebrations famously performed by his idol and former United player Cristiano Ronaldo afterwards.
After Alejandro Garnacho’s stunning opener with the overhead kick, United would go on to lead the game 1-0 until the 56th minute, when Rashford doubled the visitors’ advantage from 12 yards. Anthony Martial was initially given a yellow card by the referee over simulation for diving in the penalty box, but VAR showed that the Frenchman was indeed brought down by his former club teammate and ex-Red Devil Ashley Young, prompting the match official to award the away team a penalty instead. United’s no. 10 beat his England teammate Pickford by finding the top left corner from the spot for United’s second goal of the evening.
Martial sealed the victory for the 20-time English champions with 15 minutes left on the clock during the normal playing time, following his close-ranged chip over Pickford. The France striker first unleashed Facundo Pellistri, who came on moments earlier, before the Uruguayan gave the ball to his captain Bruno Fernandes, who then set up Martial for the clever finish and his first goal in 12 appearances in all competitions in 2023/2024. The 3-0 score line stayed till the end of the game, giving United their third straight win in the Premier League.
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Alejandro Garnacho: “I Didn’t See How I Scored.”
Alejandro Garnacho could not believe that he managed to score an acrobatic goal last night, saying “I can’t believe it! I didn’t see how I scored, I just listened to the sound and thought, ‘Oh my God’… it’s the best goal I’ve scored, of course”.
Alejandro Garnacho’s club skipper Fernandes would joke about his teammate’s performance against Everton and did not think that the Argentine teenager deserve the Match of the Match award either. “Ah, so-so! I’ll give him a good note just for the goal. But that’s because he knows I have big expectations for him. He’s not a great player yet, but he has a big future ahead. We expect a lot from him. He knows that, even more from me – I’ll always be behind him asking for more. Amazing goal though.”
Manchester United’s former captain Gary Neville went a step further by commentating that Alejandro Garnacho’s overhead kick was even better than Wayne Rooney’s bicycle effort against arch-rivals Manchester City back in the 2010/2011 Season. “He can’t believe it, Garnacho. I can’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a stadium to see an overhead kick as good as that – and I was there for Rooney’s in the Manchester derby. That was unbelievable. A magical, magical goal.”
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Which Overhead Kick Is Better: Alejandro Garnacho vs. Everton or Wayne Rooney vs. Manchester City?
As soon as Alejandro Garnacho scored the mesmerising overhead kick against Everton last night, people have taken to the internet to debate on whether the Argentine’s goal is better than former Everton man Rooney’s own bicycle strike against City more than a decade ago. In terms of importance, Wazza’s effort perhaps have more significance as it came against United’s nemesis and helped the team to achieve their second last Premier League title at the end of the season to date, but Alejandro Garnacho’s goal last night was cleaner in terms of technicality and further for distance, allowing it to edge out Rooney’s strike in our opinion at OtherLeague.com.
Alejandro Garnacho’s second goal of the 2023/2024 Season will be written in the English Premier League history as one of the best goals ever scored, and it will be a huge contender for the FIFA Puskás Award (Best Goal of the Year award) next year.
Alejandro Garnacho’s bicycle kick against Everton was almost identical to Wayne Rooney’s iconic bicycle kick against Man City.
He hit Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘SIUUU’ and ‘I’m here’ celebrations after scoring.
He’s United through and through 😤❤️ pic.twitter.com/dzWqdocnce
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 26, 2023
