Tom Cleverly probably wasn’t being that honest in his post-match interview when he told reporters that he ‘had a look up’ and fired in Manchester United’s third goal against Newcastle on Sunday, as opposed to what is closer to the real truth; he was sending in a cross for van Persie.
His manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was a little more frank admitting that it was a slice of luck that it went in and Cleverly was probably looking for the cross rather than the shot into the top corner.
It will happen maybe once or twice a season, a player intending to cross just happens to hit just right and in it goes for a goal. I remember West Ham scoring such a goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup final a few years back but my favourite ‘It was a cross but I am definitely claiming it’ goal of all time has to be this bullet from Roberto Carlos during his Real Madrid days.
Such was the speed and power that Carlos hit it at, it is wonder that if a one of his team-mates did try and head the ball in that they would have been concussed for at least a week.
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