With Manchester United trailing at Old Trafford and Alex Ferguson barking orders from the dugout, a late goal was inevitable.
The beginning of Michael Carrick’s day wasn’t great as he learned that neither Steven Gerrard nor Frank Lampard would be able to feature in the spectacle that was his testimonial game.
Shortly after the pair of England legends were ruled out of the match on Sunday afternoon, Carrick’s name was misspelled on the teamsheet.
Did Trump type the names? https://t.co/P7kpdqGWGH
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) June 4, 2017
But, on the pitch, there was never any doubt that the midfielder was going to have his say on his day.
With eight minutes remaining on the clock and United’s 2008 XI trailing thanks to a Robbie Keane cracker, Carrick positioned himself perfectly to run on to a Wayne Rooney pull-back.
Carrick hit it first time and walloped a gorgeous daisy-cutter against the post and into the bottom corner.
It had to be for @carras16 pic.twitter.com/sbMIvYm4Rz
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 4, 2017
With his goal pocketed and his job done, Carrick was given the opportunity to drink in the applause of all 65,000 in attendance as he was substituted just two minutes later.
He's got his goal and now @carras16 has gone off. o pic.twitter.com/5d6ZkHSFwI
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 4, 2017
The game finished 2-2, with Carrick’s beautiful equaliser restoring parity after Keane and Gaizka Mendieta scored either side of a Nemanja Vidic header.
It just had to be Carrick at the end of the day. Didn’t it?
