“I hope they don’t go for the Cisse goal. That was a fluke.”
The words of Stoke City chairman Peter Coates in the aftermath of surely the most remarkable thing seen at what was then known as the Britannia Stadium since Rory Delap’s heyday.
Crouch was about as far out as one of Delap’s improbably long throws when he won a header up against Gareth Barry and flicked the ball into the path of Jermaine Pennant, who wouldn’t have thought that he was about to register one of his more replayed Premier League assists when he nodded the ball back in Crouch’s direction.
But then came a moment of inspiration from a man who was always striving to be accepted for the excellent footballer he was.
(Image: premierleague.com)
Crouch instantly controlled the ball with his instep before launching into a twisting, barely fathomable volleyed effort which looped over England’s No.1 Joe Hart and found the corner of the net.
To even attempt it was ludicrous, but as he’d shown with a couple of acrobatic efforts during his time at Liverpool, Crouch was capable of such moments during his well-travelled career.
It wasn’t enough to win the game, as Manchester City ultimately earned a point from a fixture which was a repeat of the previous season’s FA Cup final when Yaya Toure, who scored the winner in that final, struck from distance via a deflection off Ryan Shawcross.
(Image: Action Images)
But Crouch’s goal was the highlight of the day, even though it wasn’t Match of the Day’s goal of the season.
Papiss Cisse’s bending, outside of the foot strike for Newcastle at Chelsea a few weeks later ended up with that award, despite Coates going on the offensive for his man.
“A remarkable goal, but a fluke,” he said. “Crouch’s goal was sheer technique.”
He got the second part right at least.
