Antonio Valencia using his left foot is about as rare as a solar eclipse. It doesn’t happen very often but when it does, you find yourself fixated in amazement at what you have just seen.
Last night against Paraguay, Valencia scored what was probably the best goal of his career – and it was with his left foot. He unleashed a fantastic left foot volley that crashed off the underside of the bar and went in, only to see it ruled out for offside.
Since when did Valencia ever have a left foot shot like that under his belt? Playing for Ecuador seems to bring the best out of Valencia.
Manchester United’s #7 has fell well below the standards he set himself last season, something he has openly admitted, but the international breaks seem to fair him very well.
He bagged three assists against El Salvador, including one superb solo run, and scored his first goal of the season against Portugal in the last international break.
This has been a fantastic break for Valencia from the pressures of being United’s #7. He played with a smile on his face for Ecuador and after having such a fruitful return for his country, let’s hope he can come back to Old Trafford and replicate the form he showed on the international scene. We need him back tormenting defenders like he did so well last season.