Izuchukwu OkosiManchester United manager Eric Ten Hag has tipped Alejandro Garnacho’s exquisite overhead kick on Sunday evening against Everton as the likely winner of the ‘Goal of the 2023/2024 season’s award.
United forward Garnacho, who is a fan of his former teammate and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia superstar Cristiano Ronaldo scored a spectacular goal reminiscent of the February 2011 strike of United legend Wayne Rooney in the Manchester derby.
It took only three minutes for the teenage sensation to put the Red Devils ahead with two further goals by Marcus Rashford (penalty) and Anthony Martial deciding the game.
Garnacho’s sensational goal silenced the home fans inside Goodison Park, who had been protesting their club’s 10 points deduction from the Premier League due to breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
Everton were a much improved side in the second half but could not convert the several scoring chances that came their way.
Ten Hag was full of praise for the youngster.
‘’It was a fantastic goal. This season, there are many games to play, but probably already that is the goal of the season.
“Not only the finish, the total move from the back to the end. My players were very confident, very composed. Well done to the team.
The Dutch tactician was well aware of the resurgence of the Tofees in the second half.
‘’Then we went passive. Too easy going, too comfortable. Everton created some chances. But in the second half, we were proactive. It was a very good performance and we scored two very good goals.’’
Ten Hag gave a first Premier League start to 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who had a good game and was singled out for praise afterwards. ‘’He has a lot of ability,’’ said Ten Hag on the Englishman.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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