'Kids will be trying that in the playground' - Haaland goal hailed

Throughout the past of football, determination are goals scored that children crossed the satellite volition effort to replicate successful the schoolhouse playground the pursuing day.

Erling Haaland's acrobatic onslaught against Sparta Prague connected Wednesday is apt to beryllium the latest.

Just arsenic it seemed vexation was gathering for Manchester City aft they were incapable to adhd to Phil Foden's aboriginal strike, Haaland took centre stage.

With Savinho's transverse coming towards him astatine a somewhat awkward tallness and angle, Haaland - without looking - turned his backmost to the extremity and produced a superb backheel volley to marque it 2-0.

From determination the floodgates opened arsenic John Stones headed successful for his 2nd extremity successful arsenic galore games, Haaland scored again and Matheus Nunes converted a precocious penalty.

But each the speech arsenic the goals went successful inactive looped backmost to Haaland's archetypal goal.

“He wasn't adjacent looking astatine the ball," erstwhile England and Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle said connected TNT Sports.

"I don't cognize what to telephone it even. It was an astonishing goal. There volition beryllium kids successful the playground each astir the state trying that."

Words hardly bash justness to the athleticism and prime required to nutrient the decorativeness Haaland achieved, and adjacent his team-mates were successful awe.

In his pitch-side interrogation aft the game, Foden told TNT Sports: "I conscionable spoke to him and said: 'If I tried to bash that I'd propulsion by groin!'

"I don't cognize however helium does it. It shows helium has this endowment that no-one other tin do."

The onslaught was reminiscent of 1 Haaland scored against Borussia Dortmund successful the Champions League 2 years ago.

But that, arsenic superb arsenic it was, was a volley scored erstwhile helium was facing towards the net. His extremity against Sparta Prague connected Wednesday was arsenic helium was facing the incorrect direction, but someway managed to twist and nutrient capable powerfulness with his backheel volley to score.

"It was an astonishing goal," Nunes said. "I was speechless aft that shot.

"When helium scored against Dortmund I was watching connected TV. To spot this unrecorded was amazing."

Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott said connected TNT Sports: "It was a unsocial finish.

"It is not a decorativeness galore strikers would effort oregon adjacent execute. It is unsocial to him and his athleticism."

Ex-Manchester City defender and England skipper Steph Houghton said connected Match of the Day: "That decorativeness was thing else.

"He is the lone striker successful the satellite who tin people from those positions."

Haaland's treble brought an extremity to his mini-drought aft failing to people successful his erstwhile 2 games.

It means helium has present scored 44 goals successful 42 Champions League appearances, and moves him 1 up of Neymar and level with Didier Drogba connected the all-time apical scorers list.

Given helium is conscionable 24 you'd expect many, galore much Champions League goals to come.

"He's a statue, truthful gangly and truthful flexible," Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said erstwhile reacting to Haaland's acrobatic strike.

"I similar it, helium has this consciousness of humour. Very akin to the Dortmund 1 a fewer years ago. Unbelievable."

With Haaland backmost among the goals Guardiola, possibly wisely, decided to substitute him with 10 minutes remaining, adjacent if it did contradict him the accidental of a hat-trick.

Haaland getting injured would beryllium unthinkable for Manchester City, but Guardiola does person a back-up program should the worst happen.

"When Erling is not disposable John [Stones] tin play arsenic a striker," helium said.