NEC Nijmegen’s Sontje Hansen showed the best, most electrifying version of himself in Sunday’s home defeat against FC Utrecht. The 22-year-old attacker provided a magnificent solo run from his own half for a wonderful equalizer, yet couldn’t stop his side from falling to a 2-1 loss against the Domstedelingen.
For the goal, Hansen intercepted the ball after a poor corner kick from Utrecht. He then sprinted with the ball at his feet across the entire field to finally beat goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas with aplomb and great composure. After the match, and despite the negative result, the former Ajax man couldn’t hide his pride:
“I’ve never scored a goal like that. (…) For me, it felt like I was in the opponent’s box within a few seconds.” Hansen recorded a speed of 33 kilometers per hour (20 mph): “That’s pretty fast. I didn’t know I could do that.”
“I thought: one on one I just have to keep going at full speed, a little to the left and right, so that he (defender Oscar Fraulo) loses his balance. He turned completely the wrong way, then I knew I had to shoot the ball. It was a beautiful goal.”
