Lawrence Shankland, the star striker of Dundee United, has opened up about his sensational goal against Dundee in the Scottish Cup quarter-final. Shankland scored a spectacular volley from 53 yards out, leaving the goalkeeper and the fans stunned. The goal helped Dundee United secure a 3-0 win and a place in the semi-final.
A moment of instinct and brilliance
Shankland, who has scored 10 goals in 33 appearances this season, said that his goal was a result of instinct and brilliance. He said that he saw the goalkeeper off his line and decided to take a chance. He said that he did not have much time to think and just hit the ball as hard as he could.
“I just saw him off his line and thought I’d have a go. I didn’t have much time to think about it, I just hit it as hard as I could and hoped for the best. It was one of those moments where everything went right. It was a great feeling to see it go in and to celebrate with the fans and the team.” Shankland said.
Shankland said that he had scored a similar goal before, but not from such a distance. He said that he was confident in his ability and always looked for opportunities to score.
“I’ve scored a few goals like that before, but not from that far out. I always back myself to score from anywhere on the pitch. I’m always looking for chances and trying to catch the keeper out. It’s something I work on in training and it paid off today.” Shankland said.
A memorable derby win for Dundee United
Shankland’s goal was the highlight of a memorable derby win for Dundee United, who dominated their rivals from start to finish. Nicky Clark opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half, before Shankland doubled the lead with his wonder strike in the second half. Marc McNulty added a third goal in the final minutes to seal the victory.
Dundee United manager Micky Mellon praised his team for their performance and said that they deserved to reach the semi-final. He also hailed Shankland for his incredible goal and said that he was a special player.
“It was a fantastic performance from the boys. They showed great intensity, quality and desire. They were clinical in front of goal and defended well. They deserved to win and to go through to the next round. It was a great day for the club and the fans.” Mellon said.
“Lawrence’s goal was unbelievable. It was a moment of genius. He’s a special player and he showed that today. He’s got that quality and confidence to try things like that. He’s a joy to work with and a great asset for the team.” Mellon said.
A bitter disappointment for Dundee
Dundee, on the other hand, were left disappointed and frustrated by their defeat. They failed to create any clear chances and were outplayed by their rivals. Dundee manager James McPake admitted that his team were second best and said that they had to learn from their mistakes.
“It was a very poor performance from us. We were nowhere near the level we can play at. We were beaten by a better team and we have to accept that. We have to take it on the chin and move on. We have to learn from this and improve.” McPake said.
McPake also praised Shankland for his goal and said that he was a top player. He said that he was not surprised by his ability and said that he had tried to sign him in the past.
“Lawrence’s goal was outstanding. It was a world-class finish. He’s a top player and he showed that today. I’m not surprised by what he can do. I’ve tried to sign him before and I know how good he is. He’s a threat to any defence and he proved that today.” McPake said.
A semi-final clash with Hibernian awaits Dundee United
Dundee United will now face Hibernian in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, which will be played at Hampden Park on May 8. Dundee United will be hoping to reach their first final since 2014, when they lost to St Johnstone. Hibernian, meanwhile, will be aiming to win their second trophy in five years, after lifting the cup in 2016.
Shankland said that he was looking forward to the semi-final and said that he was confident that Dundee United could go all the way. He said that he was hungry for more goals and more glory.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to reach the final and to win the cup. We’re confident that we can beat anyone on our day. We’ve got a good team and a good manager. We’ll prepare well and give it our best shot. I’m looking forward to the semi-final and hopefully scoring more goals and winning more games.” Shankland said.
