LONDON (AP) – Toppling forward, Henrikh Mkhitaryan looked like he’d misjudged the right-wing cross as he surged into the box seeking a clinching goal for Manchester United.
What came next brought Old Trafford to its feet – and underlined Mkhitaryan as perhaps the next cult figure at the English giant.
With an acrobatic flick of his right heel, the Armenian somehow managed to turn a ball that was behind him into the far corner from eight meters out, before plunging to the ground. Paul Pogba was the first United player to celebrate with Mkhitaryan and walked away shaking his head in disbelief.
It was a goal-of-the-season contender in the Premier League, another piece of art from a player who is coming into his own after a tough start to life at United when he struggled to adapt to the fast pace of English football following a move from Borussia Dortmund.
Mkhitaryan sealed a 3-1 win for United over Sunderland on Monday and a fourth straight league victory for a side that’s beginning to motor under Jose Mourinho. United might still be 13 points behind Chelsea, which won a club-record 12th straight game to extend its lead to seven points, but a finish in the Champions League qualification places looks increasingly likely.