Paul Merson has heaped praise on Newcastle United’s last minute hero Matt Ritchie.
The Scottish international salvaged a point for his side with a thunderous volley deep into added time, rescuing a precious 2-2 draw for the Magpies.
And after the game, Merson, who watched the game for Sky Sports News, was quick to praise the full-back.
Speaking on Soccer Saturday (Sky Sports News, March 16th, 05:10pm), he said: “You think that is game over, then right at the death the ball comes in, a real deep cross from the right.
“It comes to Ritchie just inside the box and he volleys it. Unbelievable technique, especially in this weather. Half volleys it straight into the roof of the net.
“Newcastle fans had travelled a long way, took all their tickets, they went ballistic.
“That goal of Ritchie’s is worthy of getting a result in any football match across the world. It was phenomenal.”
OPINION
Merson is right to be excited about this one. If you haven’t seen this goal yet, make sure you do, because it is a corker. The cross is deep and looping, and the focus and technique it take for Ritchie to not only watch it out of the sky, in howling winds by the way, but to meet it so sweetly with his left boot, is genuinely top class. The fact that he pulled it out of the bag with mere seconds left on the clock makes it all the more impressive, but this was a goal worthy of winning any game of football, let alone scraping a draw against Bournemouth. The connection is pure, the swing is made to look effortless, and the ball is pretty much past Artur Boruc before he even realises what’s going on. A properly stunning goal, and one that will no doubt be showered with superlatives for days to come. Deservedly so.