‘Wow’ – Roofe explains why he took Rangers wonder-shot rather than heading for the corner
Rangers striker Kemar Roofe said that his wonder goal against Standard Liege in the Europa League felt like it took an age to go in.
The former Leeds United and Anderlecht forward scored from the halfway line against the Belgian side in the Gers’ first game of the Europa League group stage.
Steven Gerrard’s side won the match 2-0 and Roofe said that he even lost track of the ball as it travelled in the air for so long.
“They were the worst conditions I’ve ever experienced as a professional,” Roofe told the Daily Mail.
“The manager even told us not to pass the ball on the grass, if you’re going to pass then do it in the air. You were running through puddles. So I’ve got away from the traffic and thought, ‘You know what, I’m going to have a go here’. It was either run for the corner, which was impossible, or shoot for the corner – I just had to get rid!
“As I shot I fell on the floor and lost track of the ball. But it took an age. Honestly, it felt like it took minutes, not seconds. You then see it land, finally. Wow.”
Battle for places
Roofe had an impressive goalscoring record at Leeds United, scoring 11 and 15 league goals in consecutive seasons, between 2017 and 2019 (via WhoScored).
However, the 27-year-old is yet to nail down a starting spot at Ibrox and has made just three Scottish Premiership starts so far this season.
In that time he has bagged two goals, in addition to his incredible Europa League strike, and Gerrard has been impressed with his level of intensity in training.
Asked about Roofe and the competition for place up front, the Gers boss told the Scottish Sun: “The training level is really intense at the moment. Everyone’s desperate to be involved and that normally brings out the best of form.”
What is for certain, is that if Roofe can keep scoring goals like he did against Standard Liege, he will soon force Gerrard’s hand in selection.
He might already be a shoo-in for the 20/21 Puskas Award.
In other Rangers news, ‘Paying off now’ – Alan Brazil claims Rangers took a big gamble and won