On Wednesday, Erling Haaland scored a stunning goal to help Manchester City defeat German club Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League.
Erling Haaland received the cross at shoulder height, about a meter in front of the Manchester City striker.
The controversial 84th-minute goal by Erling Haaland against his former club Borussia Dortmund has drawn comparisons to Johan Cruyff’s acrobatic goal against Atlético Madrid at the Camp Nou in 1973.
As he jumped off the ground to reach a cross that most players would have tried to hit with their right foot, Joao Cancelo’s pass almost passed Haaland.
This generational talent has no issues.
A few times from the end of the game, the Norwegian leaped at the back post to produce a spectacular acrobatic volley with the outside of his left foot to meet a Joao Cancelo cross.
But, unlike most players, the towering Norwegian striker hooked the ball into the Dortmund goal with the outside of his left foot, eliciting a stunned roar from the home crowd.
Pep Guardiola, his manager, lavished him with praise, comparing Haaland to his former Barcelona manager, Johan Cruyff.
City manager Pep Guardiola said after the game that Haaland’s spectacular winner reminded him of former Dutch great Johan Cruyff.
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“Wow, what a goal. I recall Johan Cruyff scoring something similar against Atletico Madrid many years ago in Barcelona. “It’s great that Erling modeled himself after Johan Cruyff,” Guardiola, a former Barcelona player, and coach, told reporters.
But, unlike most players, the towering Norwegian striker hooked the ball into the Dortmund goal with the outside of his left foot, eliciting a stunned roar from the home crowd.
Pep Guardiola, his manager, lavished him with praise, comparing Haaland to his former Barcelona manager, Johan Cruyff.
Cruyff leaped through the air just outside the far post in a match against Atlético Madrid in 1973, deflecting a cross into the net from a remarkably acute angle with at chest height, the outside of his right heel.
The City had to come back from a goal down with two goals in the final 10 minutes to win against a tenacious German side, and Guardiola was not pleased with how his team had to turn the game around yet again.
“I think we played in the wrong gear.” We had no animosity towards each other this time. There is no hostility. We were apathetic. We changed our pace and scored two excellent goals the moment we changed rhythm with Phil (Foden), Bernardo (Silva), and Julian (Alvarez),
“He stated.
“Those close to me know how Cruyff influenced my life as a person, mentor, and coach. Years ago, he scored at Camp Nou against Atleti, he was quite similar to Haaland, and when he scored, I felt Cruyff. It was quite similar.”
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It was Haaland’s 26th goal in just 21 Champions League games. He has scored for City in six consecutive games and has a goal rate of more than one per game this season. Since joining from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, he has scored 13 goals in eight games.
The equalizer came from defender John Stones’ thunderous long-range drive.
It was something we were aware of. They make an excellent team. We didn’t perform well today. But, at the same time, having that resilience is always beneficial. It works having Julian and Erling in the box, having that alternative, “Guardiola continued.