Mundo Deportivo called the strike a “golazo” (or a serious goal), the Spanish superlative for goals of exquisite technique and power.
Rabat – As Leganes’s and Morocco’s En-Nesyri’s beautifully curved strike made its way into the Barcelona net, barely 12 minutes into the game, the defenders’ and goalkeeper’s shocked facial expressions were the loudest compliment to the Moroccan player.
“What on earth!” their chagrined faces appeared to let out. En-Nesryi’s direct opponents were angry for not stopping the action that led to the brilliant goal, and the goalkeeper seemed to be asking himself whether he could do anything to stop a strike whose angle had left him no chance, confounding even the basic goalkeeping instinct of knowing whether or when to dive or not.
Their collective dejection was an accolade, and a recognition of the brilliance of a goal that may have shocked everyone, even En-Nesyri himself.
On few occasions can Ter Stegen, the magisterial Barcelona goalkeeper, look irretrievably defeated, utterly powerless as he gazes, shocked, a strike lodges itself inside his net. In defense of the brilliant German keeper, however, there was nothing he could do against that missile strike from a goal-hungry En-Nesyri.
The Moroccan had been hungry to prove himself—both to club and country. Hungry to boost his standing in both of his teams. Most of all, perhaps, hungry to shine against an opposition of the caliber of a Messi-led Barcelona.
Mundo Deportivo called the strike a “golazo” (or a serious goal), the Spanish superlative for goals of exquisite technique and power. That description said it all, and even though Barcelona went on to equalize and ultimately win 2-1, the goal is sure to remain one of En-Nesyri’s most remarkable footballing moments this season.
The incredible strike was a confidence and morale boost that the Moroccan player really needed. Not only to establish himself in the Leganes squad as the club took one of the most dominant—if not the most dominant—forces of Spanish football, but also to fuel his own self-confidence as the Moroccan striker battles to win over the new coach and frustrated fans of an in-transition Moroccan national team.
