Tottenham Hotspur’s Erik Lamela scored a stunning “rabona” goal to light up Thursday’s UEFA Europa League ties, wrapping his left boot round the back of his right leg and blasting the ball into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
That goal, a second Lamela volley and a Harry Kane hat-trick helped secure a 5-1 victory over Greek side Asteras Tripolis, but the result seemed almost insignificant in comparison with the sheer technical brilliance of the Argentine’s moment of magic.
Elsewhere, the goals were liberally spread among the games in Europe’s second-tier competition, with Borussia Moenchengladbach hitting five, while Besiktas, VfL Wolfsburg, Red Bull Salzburg and Villarreal all netted four times.
Photo: Reuters
HNK Rijeka’s Andrej Kramaric underlined his status as one of the hottest prospects in European soccer with a hat-trick, while trouble flared in eastern Europe again and SSC Napoli lost 2-0 to BSC Young Boys.
Nothing, though, came close to matching Lamela’s 30th-minute goal for wow factor, a rare glimpse of the talent that Spurs fans had heard about, but not seen much of since his club record ￡30 million (US$48 million) move from AS Roma last year.
After Kane had given the hosts an early lead, the ball was rolled across the edge of the penalty area and Lamela strode purposefully toward it. In a flash and almost imperceptible to the naked eye, he performed a gymnastic act of balance and flexibility to put one leg behind the other and arc his shot into the net, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot and the crowd stunned.
Photo: AFP
It was a suitable way to grace the 10th anniversary of the death of former manager Bill Nicholson, who led Spurs to the English league and FA Cup double in 1960-1961.
“I have seen Erik do that in training — he has that in his locker,” said Kane, whose eventful evening culminated in him going in goal following a red card for Hugo Lloris late in the match and subsequently letting in a howler from a set-piece.
“I quite fancied myself in goal, but when I saw the free-kick wobbling towards me I wasn’t too happy,” the striker told ITV Sport.
Photo: Reuters
The result breathed life into Tottenham’s Europa League campaign, giving them five points from three games, level at the top of Group C with Besiktas, who crushed Partizan Belgrade 4-0, their heaviest home defeat in European competition.
Besiktas took an 18th-minute lead through midfielder Veli Kavlak, who buried a swerving long-range pile driver past goalkeeper Milan Lukac, before Demba Ba doubled the advantage on the stroke of halftime.
Roared on by 1,000 raucous away fans, who lit several flares in the first half, Besiktas continued to dominate and Oguzhan Ozyakup made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute, before winger Gokhan Tore scored the fourth two minutes later.
Apart from Tottenham, the only other team to hit five were Moenchengladbach, who crushed Cypriot outfit Apollon 5-0, while Salzburg won 4-2 at home to Dinamo Zagreb and Villarreal beat Zurich 4-1.
Kramaric’s three goals helped Croatian side HNK Rijeka to a surprise 3-1 home victory over Feyenoord.
The 23-year-old, who has 20 goals in 14 domestic league, European and international appearances this season, single-handedly dismantled the former European champions with three second-half strikes in 13 minutes, including a penalty, that moved them into contention in Group G.
Rijeka are a point behind holders Sevilla, who are top with five points after a 0-0 draw at Royal Standard de Liege.
ACF Fiorentina made it three wins from three games in Group K with a 1-0 triumph at Greek side PAOK, but Serie A rivals SSC Napoli fluffed an opportunity to maintain their 100 percent record in Group I after a 2-0 defeat at Swiss side BSC Young Boys.
Everton are top of Group H, despite winning only one of their three matches, a 0-0 draw at LOSC Lille Metropole leaving them unbeaten on five points.
They are a point clear of VfL Wolfsburg, who won 4-2 at Krasnodar, with the Russian team’s Andreas Granqvist scoring at both ends, while Kevin de Bruyne netting twice for the German side.
Former European champions Steaua Bucharest beat Portuguese outfit Rio Ave 2-1 in Group J with two goals from Raul Rusescu.
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