Juan Mata couldn’t have picked a better time either to announce his candidacy for “Goal of the Season” or become a Manchester United hero.
Mata scored a spectacular, scissor-kick goal for Manchester United on Sunday in its 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool at Anfield. Mata’s volley was both the game-winning goal and one of the best scored by any player in the 2014-15 Premier League season.
Mata already had scored once in the game when Angel di Maria floated a pass over the top of Liverpool’s back line toward him in the 58th minute. Mata jumped and volleyed an acrobatic, left-footed shot past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to give Manchester United a 2-0 lead over its rival.
Daniel Sturridge cut into Manchester United’s lead with a goal of his own later in the second half, but Mata already had done too much damage for the visitors.
After the game, Mata, 26, called his second goal one of the best of his career.
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Mata now has scored seven goals in 25 Premier League games this season. It’s a healthy goal tally for a player, who has struggled to earn playing time in 2015.
Mata simultaneously enhanced Manchester United’s prospects for UEFA Champions League soccer next season and delivered a forceful blow to Liverpool’s chances of returning to the competition in 2015-16. Manchester United opened up a five-point lead over Liverpool in the race for fourth place in the Premier League standings with the win, and it has Mata to thank, among others.
GIF via Reddit
Thumbnail photo via Jon Super/The Associated Press
