Sky Sports pundit Chris Kamara was left drooling over Salomon Rondon’s free kick for Newcastle United against Bournemouth as he singled out what his teammates were doing before the goal.
The Venezuelan striker opened the scoring in a dramatic 2-2 draw on the south coast, hitting his dead ball effort up and over the wall and past Artur Boruc in the Cherries’ net.
Heralding the effort, Kamara was also left singling out Matt Ritchie for what he was doing as the ball floated through the air.
He told Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday (17/03): “As far as he’s concerned, if you can get that over the wall Salomon Rondon, you can have a goal.
“Technique is absolutely brilliant as he steps up to the ball. What’s very interesting about this is when he takes it, the players know. Look at Matt Ritchie in front of Mike Dean, he knows if you can get that over the wall, it’s a goal. He is already celebrating.”
Opinion
Everything about Rondon’s free kick on Saturday was perfect and Ritchie knew that as it zipped towards goal over the Bournemouth wall. Not only did the Venezuela star manage to get the right loft and spin to ensure it was on target, he put far too much pace on it for Boruc to be in a chance of saving it. Ritchie would have looked a little silly had his teammate’s effort skimmed over the bar or been tipped round the post but as the replays show, there was little to no chance of that happening thanks to the accuracy of the shot. Rondon has not been known for his free kick taking abilities during his career but it seems as though Ritchie has a new dead ball specialist to contend with at Newcastle. He might not have been taking the shot but he celebrated it as if it were his own.