Rio Ferdinand has lumped praise on lifelong Newcastle fan Dan Burn after he rose high to score a brilliant header during Newcastle’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
Miguel Almiron sent the Newcastle faithful into delirium after he struck home after 17 minutes, with Burn following up just before half-time, giving Eddie Howe’s side a 2-0 lead heading into the break.
The goal was sent for a VAR review, but after a long time the referee pointed to the centre-circle, with Burn wheeling away in eccstacy having scored for his boyhood club.
And at half-time, Ferdinand lauded the defender, saying to TNT Sports: ‘The story is phenomenal. He has a season ticket here. His heart must be pumping out of his chest. What a moment for him his family and this club.’
It was a sensational goal, with Burn rising high above the PSG defenders to head in on the 39th minute.
But the Geordie faithful had their hearts in their mouths for a few moments as the goal was checked for around two minutes by VAR.
After the ball was initially sent into the box, Jamaal Lascelles initially looked to have handled the ball in the build up.
It then reached Bruno Guimaraes on the far side of the box who floated the ball into the melee of bodies in the six-yard box, before Burn doubled their lead.
On analysis of the goal Shay Given explained why the goal was checked and ultimately awarded, claiming that Lascelles did score after the ball brushed his hand meaning that the next phase of play could continue.
‘I think it accidentally hits Lascelles’ hand,’ he told TNT Sports.
‘I think because he didn’t score it didn’t [get disallowed]. He isn’t the goal scorer it’s Dan Burn. We also thought that there might have been an offside on Bruno Guimaeres.
‘Take nothing away from the aggression. It just brushes his hand. The laws of the game say that because it drops to his foot and Lascelles puts it in it’s disallowed, but because there’s a second phase of play, Bruno puts it in and it gets to Burn and it’s a brilliant header. It’s such a special moment.’
Ferdinand added on Newcastle’s fast start to the match: ‘They had to be brave. They pressed up the pitch but they almost got punished. But when you are brave you get your rewards.
‘It’s high risk but high rewards. It’s a fantastic finish. It’s one-v-one all over the park.
‘Yes you’ve got super stars on the park but he [Eddie Howe] is confident and trusts his players. They’re aggressive and they force a mistake through their press. And they’re clinical and finish it. They’ve done this all day today.’
