Arsenal
Arsenal

Pedro Goncalves gave Sporting CP a fighting chance, and eventually a win on penalties against Arsenal in the Europa League round of 16 by chipping Aaron Ramsdale from near the halfway line. Sporting CP and Arsenal drew 2-2 in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie in Portugal, setting up a crucial second leg at the Emirates on Thursday evening.

Arsenal midfielder and captain on the night Granit Xhaka broke the deadlock inside the first 20 minutes, putting the Gunners in control of the last-16 match at halftime. Mikel Arteta’s men, on the other hand, were stunned in the second half when Goncalves ‘channelled his inner David Beckham’ with an outrageous shot from near the halfway line.

Arsenal
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale could only watch Pedro Goncalves’ strike go over him and land into the back of the net from the halfway line. Credits: Twitter

Fans wonderstruck to watch Goncalves recreate Beckham goal against Arsenal

Arsenal were dispossessed before the ball was collected by Goncalves, who charged into the Gunners’ half before lofting a magnificent chip. Ramsdale was completely caught off guard, and the Gunners’ goalkeeper scrambled back to his net in an attempt to deny Goncalves.

Sporting CP drew level on the scoreboard and on aggregate after Goncalves’ perfectly struck shot dipped over a helpless Ramsdale. Fans on social media immediately compared him to Manchester United legend David Beckham, who famously scored from the halfway line at Wimbledon in 1996.