Ron Vlaar hit his first ever goal for Aston Villa with a 30-yard piledriver in a 6-1 dismantling of Sunderland at Villa Park on Monday night.
Paul Lambert's men broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when skipper Vlaar found an in-road.
The 28-year-old Dutchman picked the ball up 30 yards from goal after Ashley Westwood's shot was blocked during a sustained spell of pressure.
Vlaar strode forward before unleashing a low, skidding shot which left Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet helpless as it thudded into the bottom corner.
The screamer was swiftly equalized by Danny Rose but Andreas Weimann slotted Villa's second home before the hosts ran riot in the second half.
Christian Benteke passed the 20-goal mark for the season with his treble and Gabriel Agbonlahor got in on the act late on to end the rout.
"I heard the crowd shouting for me to shoot and I had to go for it on the wet pitch because my touch was good," Vlaar told Sky Sports.
"Luckily it went in so that was very good for us."
 | |
| Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar shoots and scores the opening goal against Sunderland Photo: Getty Images |
Paul Lambert's men broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when skipper Vlaar found an in-road.
The 28-year-old Dutchman picked the ball up 30 yards from goal after Ashley Westwood's shot was blocked during a sustained spell of pressure.
Vlaar strode forward before unleashing a low, skidding shot which left Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet helpless as it thudded into the bottom corner.
The screamer was swiftly equalized by Danny Rose but Andreas Weimann slotted Villa's second home before the hosts ran riot in the second half.
Christian Benteke passed the 20-goal mark for the season with his treble and Gabriel Agbonlahor got in on the act late on to end the rout.
"I heard the crowd shouting for me to shoot and I had to go for it on the wet pitch because my touch was good," Vlaar told Sky Sports.
"Luckily it went in so that was very good for us."
Related links: Team Also see:
