Shane Long has scored a bloody goal.
For the first time in 11 months or 325 days or 1320 minutes, Long put his name on the scoresheet for his club, Southampton. The Irish striker got one of the sweetest goals of his career during the Saints’ Premier League clash at home to Crystal Palace.
1320 – Shane Long's goal ended a run of 1320 minutes without scoring in the Premier League, since doing so against Sunderland in February 2017. Relief.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 2018
The move started with him on the 16-minute mark. He received a throw-in, played a quick one-two before passing it backwards. This created more space which allowed him to receive the ball again.
With more room to work with, he played a delightful through ball to the man who took the throw-in.
Acres of space now at his begging, the winger took off.
Unfortunately, his cross left a lot to be desired. It missed just about everyone in its path, including one Palace defender who tried to clear it with his head.
The ball went all the way to Jeremy Pied on the far channel. The French man had all the time in the world to jog towards the box and pick his man out.
The man who made the run was, of course, Shane Long.
Long started tracking back to meet the inviting low cross and began winding up that right boot of his.
He made zero mistake with the finish – a beautiful curled effort into the corner of the net.
If hunger really is the best sauce, that must have been one of the tastiest goals of Long’s career.
Shane Long scores his first goal in 325 days.
— Richard Jolly 🇺🇦 (@RichJolly) January 2, 2018
SHANE LONG HAS SCORED A GOAL! pic.twitter.com/sdFaB6nbCQ
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 2, 2018
This is not a drill. SHANE LONG HAS SCORED pic.twitter.com/zkQr97k76Q
— dan (@TheDanJames) January 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/CStainrod/status/948292790009716737
Shane Long has scored more goals than Karry Kane has in 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ 😳 #Saintsfc
— Dave Spencer. (@spencerddave) January 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/ggilespayne/status/948293455997890560