Masterpiece: The Night Sunderland Defender Nedum Onuoha Briefly Morphed Into Lionel Messi To Score Against Chelsea At Stamford Bridge, 2010 (Photos & Video)

Chris Wright

14th, September 2018

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At the age of 31, Nedum Onuoha is currently in the process of saying his goodbyes at QPR ahead of a late-career move to the United States.

Onuoha was released by the Hoops at the end of last season after six years with the club but is continuing to train with his old side until his transfer to MLS side Real Salt Lake officially goes through.

Having begun his career at Man City, the defender carved himself a decent career as a dependable centre-back, even amassing 20 caps for the England Under-21 team as a younger man.

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However, for the very briefest of moments one night back in November of 2010, Onuoha felt the blood of a divine footballing god course through his veins – the very same night he painted his masterpiece while playing for Sunderland away against league-leaders Chelsea.

Onuoha has only amassed a total of 11 career goals speckled across a 14-year career to date but, thanks to that remarkable evening at Stamford Bridge, a solid 9% of them have been of celestial beauty.

Displaying feet as dainty as a porcelain ballerina, Onuoha went floating past three Chelsea players before trundling a gossamer-light finish past Petr Cech to open the scoring in what proved to be an unlikely 3-0 win for the Black Cats.

Don’t you just love it when otherwise-utilitarian defenders momentarily rid themselves of their shackles and pull off something truly superb?

Five points on offer to anybody who can name the other two Sunderland goalscorers without peeking.