'Puskas award incoming' - Man City fans rave about incredible Academy team wonder goal

Manchester City under-18s player Nico O'Reilly has gone viral across social media after scoring a stunning scorpion kick.

To make the audacious finish even more impressive, it was also a 95th-minute winner away at Middlesbrough, and meant City moved back to the top of the Under-18 Premier League table. The move started with a switch out to Jacob Wright, who cut inside and eventually found Alfie Harrison before the substitute fed in fellow new arrival Ashton Muir on the left wing.

Coming onto the ball, Muir fired in a first-time cross that was going behind O'Reilly but was inadvertently at the perfect height for the England youth international to flick out his left leg while falling forwards, applying the ideal contact to send the ball flying into the far bottom corner. The goal has racked up over 630,000 views in the first four hours since City uploaded the footage onto their Twitter account.

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Its importance also cannot be overstated. Sunderland had replaced Ben Wilkinson's side atop the table and set to stay there with City due to drop two points. The under-18s are now one point clear of their title challengers from the North East.

A win was also a welcome tonic after going out of the FA Youth Cup in midweek against Arsenal at the semi-final stage. O'Reilly's goal is a moment to remember from this week now. Several City supporters have been sharing their feelings about it on social media, with one calling it a contender for the Puskas Award.

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