Darwin Nunez, a striker for Liverpool, received praise from Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola for his game-winning goal Friday night.
With a stunning long-range shot, Nunez won the game for the Reds and sent Liverpool past Bournemouth to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
After equalizing 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” shot had taken him by surprise.
“I believe we were quite near,” the Spaniard lamented. It appeared as though the game was moving in our favor at one point, particularly in the second half. While we were having trouble in the first half, we were fortunate to have the wind in our favor in the second half.
the money in his evaluation of how last night’s events ultimately turned out.
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 may give up. Unease was increased by the way Justin Kluivert’s equalizer was handled—Caoimhin Kelleher misjudged the corner’s flight, leaving the striker 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 gusts and a soggy field prevented the Reds from playing their trademark smooth passing game.
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.
Nunez has already scored some beautiful goals this year, but 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 current trajectory.