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#2: Mario Stanic – Premier League debut for Chelsea, 2000
Chelsea’s 4-2 win over West Ham on the opening day of the 2000/01 season actually saw two debuting players score goals – striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Croatian midfielder Mario Stanic. But despite Hasselbaink going on to become Chelsea’s leading scorer that season, it was Stanic’s first goal – he added a second later on in the match – that really sticks in the memory.
A pass from Dennis Wise from just inside West Ham’s half found its way to Stanic late in the second half, and the Croatian controlled it by flicking the ball up with his right boot. Somehow he followed that by keeping the ball in the air with two more touches – like a child in a playground – before hitting an unstoppable right-footed volley into the top corner from 35 yards.
The goal was of simply unbelievable quality – perhaps you could criticise West Ham’s defence for not closing Stanic down, but on the other hand, how could anyone have foreseen him hitting such an amazing shot? Stanic went on to score another six goals for Chelsea over the best part of four seasons at Stamford Bridge, but unsurprisingly never topped this debut classic, which was nominated for ‘Goal of the Season’ by Match of the Day.
