Darwin Nunez, a striker for Liverpool, received praise from Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola for his game-winning goal last night.
With a stunning long-range effort, Nunez won the game for the Reds and advanced Liverpool past Bournemouth to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
After equalising just six minutes earlier, the Cherries were clearly in the lead when they scored. After the game, Iraola acknowledged to the Bournemouth Daily Echo that Nunez’s “amazing” strike had taken him by surprise.
“I believe we were quite near,” the Spaniard lamented. It appeared as though the game was moving in our favour at one point, particularly in the second half. While we were having trouble in the first half due to the wind, we were fortunate to have it in our favour in the second half. We couldn’t hold the ball for very long, and neither team could get momentum.
“We were applying a lot of pressure at that point, and it appeared like we might have scored a second goal to win the match.
“But in the end, Darwin’s objective was what made the difference. I thought it was a fantastic strike, and it probably gave them the winning goal at the worst possible time in the game.”
Nunez is praised by Iraola
Iraola’s analysis of how last night’s events ultimately turned out is largely accurate.
As Nunez scored, his team was in fact far ahead of the game. If you had to make a decision at that moment, you would have stated that the Cherries would prevail.
In severe weather, Liverpool appeared as though they might give up. Unease was increased by the way Justin Kluivert’s equaliser was handled—Caoimhin Kelleher misjudged the corner’s flight, leaving the forward unmarked at the back stick.
The Reds desperately needed someone to come up with something out of nothing at that exact moment. Darwin happily complied.
Given the direction the evening had taken, Liverpool would always need to produce a spectacular performance to win this match.
Gale-force winds and a soggy pitch prevented the Reds from playing their trademark slick passing football.
With the players and supporters of Bournemouth beginning to gain confidence, a home victory seemed all but certain. But then Liverpool’s number nine emerged.
Although Nunez has already scored a few beautiful goals this season, it will be difficult to top this one. Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres brought to mind the legendary strikers from the Reds’ past. Darwin is headed to join that list if he continues on this trajectory.