'One of the best I've seen': Insane free kick stuns world football
Marcus Rashford has left the football world in a frenzy, with an absolutely stunning free kick that Cristiano Ronaldo himself would have been proud of.
The young Manchester United striker emulated the Portuguese club legend's free kick prowess, with a moment of magic in his side's 2-1 League Cup win against Chelsea.
Rashford scored both of United's goals to knock Frank Lampard's Blues out of the competition at Stamford Bridge.
However, it was his match-clinching second strike that will live long in the memory of football fans, not just those from the red half of Manchester.
Adopting the technique that Ronaldo made his own, Rashford stabbed at the valve of the ball with next to no follow through on his shot.
The free kick itself was well behind Chelsea's 18-yard box but the movement and placement of the strike gave Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero next to no chance of stopping it.
Rashford's strike started to the right, before veering back to the left, all the while dipping and moving menacingly through the air.
Commentators and fans pointed out that the swerve and pin-point nature of the shot made it "almost impossible to save".
Sky Sports caller Gary Neville described it as "one of the best I've seen,” and the football world was equally blown away on social media.
Rashford scores the best free-kick you'll see all year! 🤩❤️😱
Marcus Rashford has blasted Manchester United into the #LeagueCup quarter-finals after scoring a brace against the Blues.
FT: Chelsea 1-2 Manchester United#CHEMUN #OptusSport pic.twitter.com/zAlBzHtuFT— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) October 30, 2019
Dear Marcus Rashford, why do you hate Chelsea?
If we have offended you or any of your family members in the past forgive us.
What a goal!!! #CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/GEvyI5CyqY— Coca Cola papi (@ChuksNoble4) October 30, 2019
This angle for Rashford's free kick really tells you about the difficulty in hitting a ball this way. The double swerve (right and then left) coupled with the dip makes it almost impossible to save.
Juninho – the best free kick taker ever – mastered it.pic.twitter.com/QP4h0hvYTI— UtdArena. (@utdarena) October 30, 2019
That free kick from Rashford 😂😂😂😂😂 The more I see it the more insane it gets 👏👏👏👏👏
— DavidOddy (@davidoddy) October 30, 2019
Honestly Rashford’s goal was infreakingsane
— Ali (@8_AliSayed) October 30, 2019
I mean, look at this ball moving twice before hit the top corner 😱 @MarcusRashford #CHEMUN #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/veOeIc8mEy
— Joey Tribbiani (@_IrmanPermana_) October 30, 2019
Rashford 👀 best freekick ive seen in a long time !
— 8lessed (@DavieFullerton) October 30, 2019
My Twitter is full of every angle of that Rashford freekick and I’m enjoying every single second of it
— Moose (@Live4MR7) October 30, 2019
That Rashford free kick is probably the best free kick in league cup history
— Ryan (@ItsSawyerss) October 30, 2019
Marcus Rashford just scored the best goal of his career 😳👏 pic.twitter.com/jc8DDnV0rF
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 30, 2019
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was rewarded for naming a strong team as United continued their recent revival.
United boss impressed by Red Devils’ revival
Solskjaer made just four changes, while Chelsea boss Lampard made six and it was five-time League Cup winners United who came out on top as they enjoyed a third successive victory.
After Rashford and Anthony Martial both missed penalties in United's win at Norwich on Sunday, Solskjaer's team went in front thanks to a successful spot-kick in the 26th minute at the Bridge.
Daniel James was fouled by Marcos Alonso and Rashford stepped up to send Caballero the wrong way from the spot for his sixth goal of the season.
Michy Batshuayi equalised from long range in the 61st minute, but Rashford's superb 30-yard free-kick won it for United in the 73rd minute.
"We've got a good team spirit. Today we were excellent, with fast flowing football. That's Manchester United. We're trying to get back to that," Solskjaer said.
“Marcus has that strike in him. I’ve seen him in training so many times.
With AFP
