On This Day: One kick will leave Anwar El Ghazi in Aston Villa history forever
There is something special about a stoppage-time winner, but when it comes for Aston Villa against Wolves in the Premier League, it is even better than that.
Not many will ever get that feeling in their careers, but Anwar El Ghazi went down in Villans history for doing just that at Molineux with a 94th-minute winner.
Back on this day, December 12, 2020, the Dutchman smashed home a last-gasp penalty to take all three points in what was Dean Smith’s 500th game as a manager.
It was one of those games you will simply never forget.
Funnily enough, though, it was ripe in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and there were no fans present to witness the madness on show at Molineux.
El-Ghazi was surrounded by silence as he was the coolest man in England to score the winner after John McGinn was brought down by Nelson Semedo.
In the final 15 minutes alone, both Joao Moutinho and Douglas Luiz were sent off either side of the goal which catapulted a bore 0-0 draw into a masterpiece.
The celebration scenes were enough to defrost anyone in the midlands cold, with Jack Grealish taking centre-stage to make sure El-Ghazi received the limelight.
Even if it never quite worked out for El Ghazi in the Premier League beyond this, it cemented his legendary status after he also scored one of the goals to take the Villa back to the big time in the play-off final.
After wasting away at Everton on loan last season under Rafa Benitez and Frank Lampard, the Dutch winger secured his permanent move away from Villa Park to join PSV Eindhoven in the summer.
Out of the 26 goals scored in his time at the club, none more so will be remembered than this high-pressure penalty that he made look like the easiest thing he had ever done on a football pitch.
What a day.
In other Aston Villa news, Kadan Young leaves Marc Cucurella red-faced during his fantastic cameo against Chelsea.