Crystal Palace of England playmaker, Eberechi Eze has admitted he was filled with sheer excitement after notching a wonder goal for his side on Saturday, and the Nigerian-born youngster confessed that it was his best moment so far in the English Premier League, megasportsarena.com reports.
While thanking his teammates for making the moment possible, the former Queens Park Rangers of England sensation added that he was delighted to help The Eagles snatch a 2-0 win against visiting Sheffield United, but admitted that he can only work harder to continue making waves with his team.
The 22-year-old Eze made an instant impression for Roy Hodgson’s men five minutes after replacing injured Ghana international Jeffrey Schlupp, and the new rave of the moment posited afterwards that his wonder strike on Saturday is his finest moment since joining Crystal Palace.
Getting a pass from James McArthur, Eze craftily stormed past a couple of opposing players and hen unleashed a sublime long-range strike into the bottom right corner of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s net.
That effort guaranteed maximum points for the Selhurst Park side, and the England youth international admitted he was in cloud nine, after British tabloid, Daily Mail noted: “Eze scored a sensational solo goal against Sheffield United after racing from inside his own half and calmly firing home.
“The 22-year-old, whose reputation has only continued to grow following his switch from QPR in August, demonstrated impressive footwork and deft dribbling ability when gliding beyond several players.
“With a clever jink inside down the right flank, Eze then set himself on the edge of the penalty area and slotted into the far corner.”
The dreadlocks-wearing Nigerian-born lad certainly will have endeared himself to manager Roy Hodgson with stunning strike against Sheffield, as he reaffirmed his ability to score long-range goals with his latest effort.
Five minutes after replacing Schlupp, the 22-year-old carved a path from inside his own half, dismissed three of his markers before unleashing a beauty into the bottom right corner of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s net.
Both of Eze’s EPL goals for Palace have come from outside the box, with only James Ward-Prowse (3) netting more from long range this season, and he is only behind Southampton midfield ace, James Ward-Prowse, who has scored more goals (three) than any other player outside the opposition area in the ongoing campaign.
Eze’s performance against The Blades was a display of marvelous quality and the youngster, who opened his EPL account for Palace with a sublime free-kick in a 4-1 spanking of Leeds United in November, confessed that he is excited with how things are turning out for him.
The England youth international has been an instant hit in Hodgson’s squad since joining them from English Championship side Queens Park Rangers on August 28 on a five-year deal; for a fee reportedly around £17m.
His latest strike mean that all his goals in the English elite division have now come from outside the box, and Eze becomes the fourth Crystal Palace player to score each of their first two EPL goals for the club from outside the box, and first since Ricky Newman in 1994.
Eze told Sky Sports: “Potentially. I know it’s a good goal. I’m grateful for the opportunity to come on, and to take my chance which was great. You want to come on and make an impact and be effective.
“We have to be ready on the bench, and take our chance when it comes. I thought I may as well take the chance and see if I can beat someone. When I got into shooting range I was thinking ‘I’ll try my luck and see what happens,’ and thankfully it went in.”
