'A split-second decision' - Southampton loanee Onuachu reacts to scoring Olivier Giroud-like scorpion kick goal

Southampton loanee Paul Onuachu is trending for all the good reasons after his spectacular backheel goal secured all three points for Trabzonspor in a 2-1 win over Konyaspor on matchday 12 of the Turkish Super Lig on Friday night.

With his back to goal, Onuachu hit the ball very hard with his heel and managed to beat the Konyaspor goalkeeper after receiving a lofted pass from Enis Destan.

Onuachu's sublime strike is reminiscent of the scorpion kick goals scored by Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Paris Saint-Germain in a 4-0 rout of SC Bastia in 2014, Olivier Giroud for Arsenal against Crystal Palace in 2017 and Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Manchester United against Sunderland in 2016.

The FC Ebedei product was shipped out on loan to Trabzonspor in September after struggling to adapt to the demands of English football and the methods of managers Rubén Sellés and Nathan Jones in the second half of last season.

But with six goals in eight appearances for Trabzonspor, Onuachu has returned to form and silenced his critics. 

Commenting on his second goal against Konyaspor, Onuachu said to beIN SPORTS, via NTVSpor: "Actually, I don't know what I can say about the goal. The ball did not come to my feet or to my head. 

"I had to make the right decision in a second. It was a split-second decision. It is difficult to describe and explain. You have to decide at that moment."

With no goals to his name in three consecutive Super Lig matches in October, Onuachu was omitted from the Super Eagles squad for their 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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