Wayne Rooney scored a wonderstrike from just inside the opponents half to help Manchester United to a comfortable 2-0 win at West Ham on Saturday.
The situation appeared innocuous enough when a high ball from Ashley Young landed just inside the Hammers' path.
But Rooney eased James Tomkins out of the way, looked up quickly and spotted West Ham goalkeeper Adrián out of position.
The 28-year-old took aim from fully 45 yards and struck an audacious half-volley which evaded the backpedalling goalkeeper and bounced into the net.
It was a spectacular long-range effort that evoked memories of David Beckham's famous strike against Wimbledon in 1996.
And it was fitting that Beckham himself was in attendance to witness the goal, watching from the stands with his kids.
Asked by Sky Sports if his goal was better than Beckham's, Rooney jokingly said, "Oh, of course."
He went on: "I think it's just instinct. I've turned, had a quick look and seen the goalkeeper is off his line. I've tried that many times but thankfully it's gone in.
"You try them in training, you try it in games, but it's not often they come off. When they do it's great for me and the team to put us in such a position."
United manager David Moyes added: "I wanted it to go straight in and I didn't know if it was going to bounce under the bar or over the bar. Thankfully though it did go in.
"It was a brilliant goal, superb technique and in Wayne we have a player who is capable of doing all those sorts of things on a football pitch.
"They are saying in the dressing room he's tried that 20 times and it's never worked, but it did today. Such great awareness.
"It was like Beckham's goal for sure. Wayne tries it, that's the thing. I think how clean Beckham hit it but I think for Wayne to take it on the volley along with his timing, it's a great goal."
Rooney went on to score again before halftime when Mark Noble's clearance cannoned off him and bounced passed the helpless Adrián.
The England international is now United's third highest scorer of all-time with 212 career goals for the club.
The situation appeared innocuous enough when a high ball from Ashley Young landed just inside the Hammers' path.
But Rooney eased James Tomkins out of the way, looked up quickly and spotted West Ham goalkeeper Adrián out of position.
The 28-year-old took aim from fully 45 yards and struck an audacious half-volley which evaded the backpedalling goalkeeper and bounced into the net.
It was a spectacular long-range effort that evoked memories of David Beckham's famous strike against Wimbledon in 1996.
And it was fitting that Beckham himself was in attendance to witness the goal, watching from the stands with his kids.
Asked by Sky Sports if his goal was better than Beckham's, Rooney jokingly said, "Oh, of course."
He went on: "I think it's just instinct. I've turned, had a quick look and seen the goalkeeper is off his line. I've tried that many times but thankfully it's gone in.
"You try them in training, you try it in games, but it's not often they come off. When they do it's great for me and the team to put us in such a position."
United manager David Moyes added: "I wanted it to go straight in and I didn't know if it was going to bounce under the bar or over the bar. Thankfully though it did go in.
"It was a brilliant goal, superb technique and in Wayne we have a player who is capable of doing all those sorts of things on a football pitch.
"They are saying in the dressing room he's tried that 20 times and it's never worked, but it did today. Such great awareness.
"It was like Beckham's goal for sure. Wayne tries it, that's the thing. I think how clean Beckham hit it but I think for Wayne to take it on the volley along with his timing, it's a great goal."
Rooney went on to score again before halftime when Mark Noble's clearance cannoned off him and bounced passed the helpless Adrián.
The England international is now United's third highest scorer of all-time with 212 career goals for the club.
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