FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED outcast Memphis Depay rejoiced in his contender for goal of the season as the Dutchman scored twice to seal Lyon’s 4-0 thrashing of Toulouse in Ligue 1.
Christophe Jallet and Maxwel Cornet put Lyon in control at Parc OL on Sunday before Depay stole the show with a second-half brace, the latter of those coming from just inside the Toulouse half.
Depay picked up the ball in the centre circle and spun round a defender before lofting the ball over the head of Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont for his fourth goal in three matches.
“It’s incredible for me to have scored a goal like that. I had tried one like that a few years ago and it hit the bar,” said Depay.
“I’m very happy, it’s a magnificent goal. I’m very happy with this victory.”
The 23-year-old, who joined Lyon from United in January after rarely featuring under Jose Mourinho, admitted picking up on Lafont’s tendency to drift from his goal earlier in the game.
“I saw the goalkeeper was playing off his line in the first half and I kept that in the back of my mind,” Depay told Canal+.
“Then I had the ball and I turned around and shot. I didn’t even see the ball go in, but I just heard everyone go crazy.”
Lyon coach Bruno Genesio saw his side strengthen their hold on fourth place following a fourth home win in a row, but naturally it was Depay’s stunning goal that seized the attention.
“He attempted it because he saw the goalkeeper was off his line. He was successful of course but it’s perhaps easier to try at 3-0 than at 0-0, although knowing him he would also have tried it at 0-0.”
After an uncertain first few outings in France, Depay has scored five goals in nine league games and started to deliver a return on the initial 16 million euros ($17 million) Lyon paid to prise him away from Old Trafford.
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