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Watford’s Ismaila Sarr scores from inside OWN HALF before missing penalty at West Brom

Watford’s Ismaila Sarr scores from inside his OWN HALF before missing a penalty at West Brom with Monday night’s game finishing 1-1.

The 24 year old Senegalese left fans speechless when netting a jaw-dropping goal with Twitter users saying he is too good for the Championship.

Watford are desperate for an instant return to the Premier League after relegation last year and have done a decent job retaining many of their top talents including Sarr, who has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United over the past few seasons.

Whether he stays or goes this summer, his latest finish will have added a couple of millions onto his price tag after a sensational goal from almost 60 yards that has left many speechless just minutes into the match.

After controlling a cleared header with a touch of magic, Sarr’s second set him up as he saw David Button off his line, yet he was just on the edge of Watford’s centre circle half, though that didn’t stop him punting one in, flying over the hapless Baggies keeper to leave the Hawthorns stunned in silence.

blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>

PENALTY SAVED! 🧤❌

12 yards is a bit too close for Ismaïla Sarr… pic.twitter.com/mq1KI4007b

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 8, 2022

Former Watford star Derek Payne was gobsmacked on BBC Three Counties Radio, saying: “What a goal, what a finish. That is some goal. Watford have been under severe pressure, but the ball drops middle of pitch and Ismaila Sarr does that.

“David Button has to look at his positioning. Sarr delivers a powerful chip – I don’t even know how you describe it.”

West Brom found an equaliser two minutes into first-half added time when Grady Diangana’s fine lofted pass found Grant, who took the ball down excellently before finishing right-footed from close range.

Watford remained on the back foot for much of the second half, however they did come closest to winning it when Sarr went down in the Albion penalty area under pressure from Semi Ajayi.

Sarr stepped up, but it was rather tame, struck far too feebly to Button’s left – and the Baggies keeper swooped to save.

West Brom’s Steve Bruce: “The most important thing is your performance and what you are looking for, especially early in the season, in terms of fitness levels and how you are trying to play. I couldn’t have wished for a better performance from them. I thought they were excellent from the start to the finish.

“Sometimes in football you don’t get what you deserve, but the performance is the most important thing for me because it was very, very good.”

Watford’s Rob Edwards: “I can’t say I enjoyed it! What I enjoyed was the fight and the heart that we showed, especially in that second half – probably for 90 minutes, really. It wasn’t our night with the ball; I want to give West Brom credit as they were clearly the better team tonight.

“We couldn’t get any rhythm, we couldn’t keep the ball for long enough, we weren’t able to press very well and we adjusted not once but twice. But what I’m proud of is the fight, spirit and togetherness we showed. I thought we earned the luck to get a point at a really difficult place.”

“Just seeing it and his quality, it was a moment of genius really,” said Edwards.

“It was a great bit of technique and vision – whenever you see a goal like that, it’s special.

“I’ve not seen that yet but I’m not surprised because he’s super talented.

“I didn’t even see it coming but when he started lining up for it, I thought ‘here we go’.

“As soon as it left his foot, I thought it’s in. It was an amazing goal.

“We can’t take credit for that – it was just down to Ismaila.”

As for Sarr’s poor penalty, which was easily saved by David Button, Edwards said: “I’m sure he was disappointed with it but he was incredible – he was the reason why we got a point.

“He scored a goal from nothing and he was brave enough to take the penalty; it didn’t go in but we probably didn’t deserve it.”

Albion manager Steve Bruce admitted he was torn between applauding Sarr’s wonder goal and criticising Button.

“Like everybody in the ground, did I want to applaud it or look at my goalkeeper, thinking ‘where are you?!’” said Bruce.

“It’s a wonderful piece of skill by a very good player. I think he looked to see where my goalkeeper was and he (Sarr) executed it.

“We’ve seen those a few times – as a manager I remember Rooney scoring one against West Ham, and Beckham – but I can’t remember one like that against me. And I don’t want another one either!

“But the way we responded was the pleasing thing – and my goalkeeper.

“It wasn’t easy for him, but he didn’t get nervous. He probably thought he wasn’t deep enough.

“But he didn’t panic, and he saved a penalty in the last 15 minutes or so which gave us a point.”

Bruce was delighted with his side’s performance, adding: “That’s the best we’ve played since I’ve been here.”

Albion (4-2-3-1): Button; Furlong (Phillips, 90+1), Ajayi, O’Shea, Townsend; Molumby, Livermore (c) (Yokuslu, 78); Wallace, Swift, Diangana (Reach, 88); Grant.

Subs not used: Palmer, Bartley, Mowatt, Robinson.

Watford (3-4-3): Bachmann; Kabasele, Sierralta (Troost-Ekong, 82), Cathcart; Kamara (Gaspar, 76), Kayembe, Cleverley (c), Sema; Sarr (Gosling, 90+5), Pedro, Dennis (Manaj, 82).

Subs not used: Hamer, Asprilla, Quina.

Attendance: 22,365 (1,410 Watford fans)

Referee: Tim Robinson

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This is how fans reacted as Watford’s Ismaila Sarr scores from inside his OWN HALF before missing a penalty at West Brom…

@TraffLangton_: Jesus wept

@luis_turton: Goal of the season close it now

@Bilybond; Button was undone with that shot

@LloydEvs64myc: Take a bow son

@CoIePalmer: Sarr needs to get out the championship, he’s more than that

@ajg8701: When did longest goal = best goal?

@mickey8150: Well I mean it is quite outrageous to take shot from the halfway line yes the goalkeeper is off his line completely but took couple touches and just smashed the ball straight over him not many will beat that this season

@tomlmorgan146: Mental he’s playing championship footy 😂 quality player

@g_brooks_; Staggering he hasn’t been picked up by a prem club

@aspitweets: That goal is the football equivalent of reverse sweeping a ball into the stands – utterly outrageous.

@Finnster2012: This lad should be in the prem

@TalkofTyneside: Sign him up!

@MaccaGio: Plucked out the air then does that, My God Sarr is some player!! #WatfordFC #Sarr

@WFCHenry: CLOSE THE PUSKAS AWARD WE HAVE ARRIVED

@abiiiii2002: That’s sarr gone next week

@mikeyfoster16: What a fucking goal

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