Ashley Young scored one of the best free-kicks you’ll see this season on Tuesday night.
The Manchester United wing-back was named man of the match in the 4-2 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road, and rightly so.
Young showed why he’s on course to win the Ballon d’Or with a brilliant first-half display, helping Jose Mourinho’s side race into a 3-0 lead with two fine goals. Anthony Martial got the other first-half goal for United, and Jesse Lingard wrapped up the three points with his great goal, and diabolical celebration, to make it 4-2 after Watford got back into the game in the second period.
However, only one moment sparked this reaction from Mourinho and it was the free-kick from Young. From 25 yards out. Into the top corner.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_UK/status/935613938045214721
Young had opened the scoring with an excellent strike against the club where he began his career.
Lingard laid a pass off to his teammate on the edge of the box and Young took a touch before smashing the ball past Heurelho Gomes with a powerful strike. It came out of nothing and was an impressive way to end an 18-month goal drought, but was nothing compared to his second goal of the night.
Young curled the ball beyond Gomes into the top corner. It was a perfect free-kick, like something David Beckham would dispatch on a regular basis. Except it was by Ashley Young, who isn’t renowned as a dead-ball specialist, so few expected it to go in – including his former teammate.
Rio Ferdinand was working as a pundit on BT Sport, and was as surprised as the rest of us that Young found the net with his curling free-kick, saying:
“(That was a) Pure, pure strike from Youngy. Great strike. I’ve never seen him do that at any time in his life. I didn’t think Youngy had the muscle in his legs to get it that far.”
The last-time Young scored before Tuesday night was in May 2016, so it’s fair to say Rio wasn’t the only one to be surprised by the stunning free-kick.
Poor Ashley Young. Has one of the games of his life then Jesse Lingard trumps him…
— Jonathan Northcroft (@JNorthcroft) November 28, 2017
Ashley Young when his contract is coming to an end. pic.twitter.com/zfqLHUW5YO
— United Religion (@Unitedology) November 28, 2017
If Ashley Young gets his hat trick, we’re all going town right? I mean like, ALL of us
— Stuart Davis (@stu_1512) November 28, 2017
