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Europa League: Tottenham's Argentinian winger Erik Lamela revels in rabona strike

Tottenham Hotspur's Erik Lamela celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League group C match against Asteras
Image: Erik Lamela: Celebrates his spectacular rabona goal

Tottenham winger Erik Lamela admits his spectacular ‘rabona’ strike is the best goal he has scored in his career.

The rabona, where the kicking leg wraps around the standing leg, has been performed in a competitive match by a number of top players, but very few have used it to score a goal.

Marseille winger Andre Ayew scored a rabona against Reims in Ligue 1 last month, and Lamela did the same in Tottenham’s Spurs' 5-1 victory over Asteras Tripolis in the Europa League on Thursday.

Asked if that was the best goal of his life, Lamela said: "Yes, I think so. I think so. I've scored like that before, when I was playing in the junior sides at River Plate. It just happened in a flash.

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Paul Lambert says Erik Lamela's 'rabona' strike for Spurs in the Europa League should have been saved by the keeper

"I wasn't thinking about doing something like that, I just wanted to score and it was the most effective, comfortable way of making it happen. It's something I'll always remember because it's something different from the other goals I've scored.

"The goal was important for me but also because I needed to score, any type of goal. I'm happy for the goal and the win. I hope to continue in this way but it's just one game for me.

"I need to think about doing other things well and continuing to improve."

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp insists the Argentine’s strike is the type of goal that fans love to see.

He said: “It was a beautiful goal, audacious, not something that many players would have the confidence to try. It was lovely and great to see.

“You go to a football match, you pay your money and that’s the sort of quality that you want to see. It was a lovely piece of play. It’s something that has got everyone talking and that’s what football’s about.”

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admitted he was stunned by the goal.

"To hit on the run like that was unbelievable and when I saw it I actually didn’t believe he had hit it with his left foo," Pardew said.

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