Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s scorpion’ kick against Sunderland has been voted Manchester United’s Goal of the Season for 2016/17 by a big margin.
As the club reports on its website, Mkhitaryan’s goal picked up 57 per cent of the votes in the official poll on ManUtd.com. Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking 250th goal for United, a spectacular last-gasp free-kick in January’s draw at Stoke City, was the runner-up with 13 per cent, and Paul Pogba’s long-range drive at Swansea City on nine per cent completed the top three.
Fans’ favourite Mkhitaryan also provided three other contenders in the original 10-strong shortlist for the prize but his inventive strike against the Black Cats, the finest goal of his career by his own admission, proved a landslide victor.
Collecting the accolade at Thursday’s end-of-season awards ceremony at Old Trafford, the 28-year-old said: "To be honest, I was impressed as well. I just realised when I went home and watched it again." Crediting the player who provided the assist for his award-winning goal, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Armenian quipped: "I couldn't miss this great opportunity because I received a great ball from the god!"