Moriba scores stunning first goal for Barcelona in win against Osasuna
‘I will take this moment with me to the tomb!’: Barcelona’s 18-year-old wonderkid Ilaix Moriba in dreamland after scoring stunning first goal for the club in comfortable win at Osasuna
- Ilaix Moriba scored his first Barcelona goal with a sublime strike on Saturday
- The 18-year-old admitted he will never forget his first goal for the first-team
- REPORT: Barcelona go two points behind Atleitco Madrid with win at Osasuna
Barcelona’s 18-year-old midfielder Ilaix Moriba opened his goalscoring account for the club in sensational fashion and admitted he will never forget his first strike for the club.
The hugely impressive teenager, who already has a €100m (£86m) buy-out clause and has been unleashed by Ronald Koeman in recent weeks, fired in Barcelona’s second from the edge of the penalty area from a Lionel Messi assist as the team moved to within two points of leaders Atletico Madrid.
The powerful right-footed midfielder, who was on as a second half substitute against Osasuna, said: ‘I like to shoot. I don’t know how I managed to work the ball back onto my left but thank God it went in.
Ilaix Moriba scored his first goal for Barcelona with a sublime finish late on against Osasuna
‘I will never forget this moment. I will take it with me to the tomb.’
Ilaix is one of a host of young Barcelona players to emerge in the last season-and-a-half. This time last year, Ansu Fati was scoring his first goal for the club against the same team.
‘Ansu is like a brother to me,’ said Ilaix. ‘I have a lot of affection for him. I’m happy to scored my first goal in the same goal that he scored his.’
With Barcelona elections due to take place on Sunday, Barca coach Koeman’s credit keeps rising.
Moriba celebrates with Messi after his neat finish which sealed all three points for Barcelona
The team have now won their last eight away games and have kept clean sheets in their last four matches. His decision to use a back three with wing backs is paying off and his young pretenders are justifying the faith he is putting in them.
‘Ilaix scored a fantastic goal. He is making great progress,’ he said. ‘When he comes on in games he gives the team something different. Despite his youth he deserves the minutes he is getting.’
Ilaix added: ‘Since the first game Koeman has told me to shoot when I can and that is what I have done.’
Asked about the title race, the midfielder said: ‘We never thought the league title was decided. It is difficult but we are going to fight because that is the DNA of the club.
Moriba said afterwards that manager Ronald Koeman had told him to shoot when he could
‘I have learned a lot coming through La Masia. They have educated me well. I have had a lot of luck too and I have to thank my parents for teaching me well, I want to dedicate the goal to them.’
If Atletico lose to Real Madrid on Sunday then the gap at the top will be just two points, with only one game in hand for the leaders.
‘Hopefully they both drop two points or if anyone loses then hopefully it is Atletico,’ Ilaix added.
Share this article
Source: Read Full Article