‘Ridiculous’: World stunned by Manchester City freak

History has been made in the Champions League with a 22-year-old freak blowing the world away with a goal for the ages.

Erling Haaland of Manchester City scores a cracker. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has come up with a freakish finish to help the club to a 2-1 comeback win over his old club Borussia Dortmund on Thursday morning.

An extraordinary, acrobatic finish in the air has the Norwegian striker being compared to football icons Johan Cruyff and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The 22-year-old had been kept remarkably quiet, but only needed the slightest glimpse of goal to extend his scoring streak to six games as his telescopic left leg prodded home the winner six minutes from time in the 2-1 victory.

Haaland has now scored 13 goals in nine games for City since they met his bargain 60 million euro ($60m, £52m) buyout clause from the German giants.

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Haaland has also scored 26 goals in 21 Champions League appearances — a goal every 62 minutes on average.

At 22 years and 55 days, Haaland has also become the youngest player to score for and against the same club in the Champions League.

His performance clearly left his old teammates filthy.

Goal. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.

Jude Bellingham smiled as he embraced Haaland at full time and appeared to be seen on the TV broadcast saying: “F***’s sake, mate”.

Bellingham was far from the only star in awe of Haaland.

City manager Pep Guardiola compared Haaland with his mentor Cruyff.

“Everyone knows how important a person Johan Cruyff was in my life. As a person, educator, mentor, everything,” said Guardiola. “He scored in Camp Nou an incredible goal against Atletico Madrid (in 1973) that was quite similar. The moment he (Haaland) scored, I thought of Cruyff.”

Haaland’s incredible flexibility despite his giant frame also drew comparisons from Guardiola to another former mercurial Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic endured one unhappy season under Guardiola at the Camp Nou, but has used an upbringing in martial arts to devastating effect during his long and storied career.

“I remember my dear friend Ibrahimovic had this ability to put his leg on the roof,” added Guardiola.

“Erling is quite similar. He’s elastic, flexible and after has the ability to put it in the net. He’s so big, but has this natural flexibility.”

A BT Sports commentator said it was a “ridiculous” goal.

CBS Sports commentator Ben Jacobs posted on Twitter: “That Erling Haaland goal is insane. He isn’t human”.

Former Aston Villa star Dion Dublin told the BBC he was stunned that Haaland didn’t take the simple option of using his other foot.

Erling Haaland is not human. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.

“Any other player would’ve tried to strike it with their right foot on the volley, but Haaland’s gone with the left foot. It’s hard to describe,” he said.

“He’s got to be at least eight foot in the air when he connects with the ball, it’s an amazing finish. He’s gone with the correct foot obviously because it’s gone in the back of the net.

“He’s a left-footer and many times, you will do things in an unorthodox way with your good foot which makes it look really difficult, but you’re more comfortable because it’s your good foot.

“I don’t know what he’s thinking, finishing with the wrong side of the foot in mid-air. Absolutely outstanding finish.”

Bellingham had given Dortmund the lead 11 minutes into the second half. But a triple substitution awoke City from their slumber and two goals in four minutes turned the game around.

John Stones’ piledriver from outside the box levelled with the aid of some poor goalkeeping from Alexander Meyer.

Haaland then took centre stage by somehow stretching to meet Joao Cancelo’s cross and beat Meyer at his near post.

“In the end we showed what we are. This is how we have to play. I’m proud of the last 20, 25 minutes,” said Haaland.

“Two wonderful goals today — mine was a bit better, honestly! It was a nice cross from Cancelo and in the end a really important win.” Victory sees City open up a three-point lead at the top of Group G, with Dortmund still in second after FC Copenhagen and Sevilla played out a 0-0 draw in the Danish capital.

Bellingham admitted on the eve of the game he had no idea how Haaland can be stopped.

But the Germans did a good job of suffocating the service to their former star striker as the first 45 minutes passed with barely any goalmouth action to note.

“I think we were brilliant for the majority of the game,” said Bellingham. “We gave them little to work with.

“Great teams, you give them a yard and they can deliver like that, they can hurt you and that’s what they did tonight.” Bellingham has been strongly linked with a move back to the Premier League with City, Manchester United and Liverpool reportedly interested.

— with AFP