Wayne Rooney found the net with a pinpoint free-kick on his Manchester United debut, so it is only fitting that he broke the club’s goalscoring record in the same fashion.
The former Everton forward overtook Bobby Charlton in the most dramatic fashion possible, sending a 90th-minute free-kick beyond Lee Grant to earn United a point at Stoke with time running out.
Juan Mata’s own goal had given the hosts the lead, but Rooney’s late strike – number 250 in a Manchester United shirt – ensured the spoils were shared.
The praise came pouring in for Rooney, who had clearly been saving something special for the occasion.
Wayne Rooney. What a goal to bring up the record.
— Arsène's Son 🎈 (@hughwizzy) January 21, 2017
Right out of the Bobby Charlton playbook.
Wayne Rooney breaks the Manchester United goal scoring record with a freekick that Bobby Charlton would have been proud of.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 21, 2017
The record-equalling goal against Reading might have been a little on the scrappy side, but this was anything but.
That's some free kick for Rooney… which breaks the MUFC scoring record. Stoke 1, United 1.
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) January 21, 2017
What a goal! There's … the record. Everyone expecting a cross but Rooney curls it high past Grant to equalise. United deserve it.
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) January 21, 2017
Fair fucks, that's quite a hit from Rooney
— Tim Stillman (@Stillmanator) January 21, 2017
There are always some complaints, though…
Martin Tyler is going to be absolutely devastated that Wayne Rooney's beaten the record during a non-televised 3pm kick-off.
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) January 21, 2017
In the end, though, it’s all gone full circle.
https://twitter.com/jonathanliew/status/822850371987079169
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