This is one of the greatest goals the UEFA Europa League has seen and will ever see.
To score from outside the penalty box is no small deal. To score from outside the penalty box with a rabona is just inexplicably awesome.
Harry Kane might have grabbed a hat-trick on a night where Tottenham Hotspur convincingly beat Asteras Tripolis 5-1 in the Europa League, but Erik Lamela’s goal made him the man of the show.
Mauricio Pochettino described Erik Lamela’s wonder-strike during Tottenham’s 5-1 win over Greek side Asteras Tripolis as “unbelievable”.
Lamela scored with an outrageous ‘rabona’-style strike, wrapping his left foot around his right leg to curl the ball in from 20 yards.
“It was a great goal, maybe the best by one of my players,” said Pochettino.
Asked about his lack of celebration, the Spurs manager said: “I only show emotion at home, and in my bed.”
What is a rabona?
A method of kicking the football with the kicking leg wrapped around the back of the standing leg, so it appears the player has their legs crossed
The first reported rabona happened in a league game in Argentina in 1948 and was performed by Ricardo Infante
Soon after, a magazine front cover featured Infante dressed as a pupil with the caption ‘Infante played hooky’; rabona means to skip school in Spanish
Diego Maradona, Roberto Baggio, Gianfranco Zola and Paul Gascoigne are among the players who have performed a successful rabona during a game
Lamela’s magnificent strike was hailed by his team-mates as one of the best they have seen.
Striker Harry Kane, who hit a hat-trick as Spurs strolled to victory, said: “It was crazy. He’s got that in his locker and it was great for him to do it on the big stage.”
Defender Jan Vertonghen can’t believe Erik Lamela’s wonder strike
“Stunned”, “crazy”, “unbelievable” – Spurs players and management describe Lamela’s strike
Defender Jan Vertonghen added: “I was stunned, for two minutes I was just thinking about that goal.
“It is 100% the best goal I’ve seen live. I’ve seen a lot of YouTube clips but I’ve never seen a goal like it. I think the Puskas award is already his.”
If only my words could describe this goal. JUST WATCH IT.
