‘If this was on purpose, it’s Puskas’: Ilkay Gundogan scores a stunning, if fortunate, goal for Man City at the Club World Cup

Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring for Manchester City in their match against Al Ain during the FIFA Club World Cup, delivering a goal that was both aesthetically pleasing and seemingly lucky. The 34-year-old midfielder’s shot from around 15 yards out, after a deflected corner kick, lobbed the goalkeeper using his weaker left foot. The ball appeared to be an effort to cross to Erling Haaland but unexpectedly looped into the net, much to the delight of many fans.

Some viewers praised the goal as a beautiful piece of play, with one commenting, “If this was on purpose, it’s Puskas for Gundogan,” highlighting its technical flair. Another fan described it as a “really beautiful” goal. However, not everyone was impressed; former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given remarked that Gundogan benefited from poor goalkeeping, noting that the goalkeeper did not react well to the shot.

The goal was complemented by a picture of Gundogan celebrating with teammates after his strike. During the match, City extended their lead as Claudio Echeverri scored his first goal for the club from a free-kick, and Erling Haaland converted a penalty just before halftime, making the score 3-0. Despite the fortunate nature of his goal, Gundogan’s contribution was a highlight in a dominant City performance.