Leon Osman was left totally amazed by Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic after his goal on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea produced a really eye-catching performance this evening to beat Red Bull Salzburg 2-1 away from home.
The Blues clinched qualification to the knockout rounds with a win in Austria, which included some of their most attractive football since Potter took charge as head coach.
Kovacic opened the scoring with a screamer on his weaker left foot from outside the box.
Junior Adamu equalised for hosts Salzburg early into the second-half, but Kai Havertz’s match-winning goal was a thunderbolt that fired in off the underside of the crossbar.
Kovacic goal in Champions League
BBC pundit Osman was wowed by Kovacic’s first-half strike to break the deadlock against Milan.
The 28-year-old midfielder doesn’t score often, but it seems like when he does, it’s spectacular.
“Well that is a sensational finish by Kovacic at the edge of the penalty area. He hits it on the half volley, it was good play all round by Chelsea,” Osman told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“That is an unbelievable reaction from Kovacic to open his foot up and side foot it right into the top corner. The goalkeeper, pretty much on his knees can only watch it go in. What a wonderful finish to put Chelsea ahead.”
Classy Croatian
Kovacic came off the bench to help change the game on the weekend against Man United, so it wasn’t a major shock to see him back in the starting line-up in midweek.
The central midfielder was at his glorious best against Salzburg with some superb moments on the ball.
Aside from his wonder strike, the Croatia international was really intelligent picking up spaces and being a creative hub.
The Blues played some exceptional football, especially in the first-half, with Kovacic often at the heart of the team’s play.
He doesn’t often get talked about by rival fans as one of the best midfielders around, but tonight was a reminder of just how good he can be.
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