Saido Berahino scored his first goal in 913 days and 48 appearances (two and a half years) after the Stoke City striker opened the scoring against Huddersfield in the League Cup on Tuesday night.
Once touted as a nailed-on future England No.9, the 25-year-old forward has endured a miserable time since moving to the Potters in January 2017.
Indeed, Berahino’s woes had actually begun almost a year before that, with his last competitive goal coming in February 2016, for West Brom against Crystal Palace.
The goal against Huddersfield came on 53 minutes after James McClean’s effort came back off the crossbar, with Berahino’s looping header just about making it over the line – his first goal in 48 barren appearances…
Hardly the most emphatic of ways to end a major goal drought but they all count!
913 – Stoke City’s Saido Berahino has scored his first club goal in 913 days since he scored for West Brom against Crystal Palace in February 2016, ending a run of 48 matches without scoring in all competitions. Finally. #CarabaoCup
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 28, 2018
An unfair comparison we know, but since Berahino last troubled the score-sheet, Cristiano Ronaldo has banged in 130 goals, won three Champions Leagues, the La Liga title and a European Championship.
Stoke would ultimately win the game 2-0, with Juninho Bacuna putting through his own net in injury time in truly sensational fashion…
The Championship side progress to the next round while Huddersfield can get back to focusing on their second Premier League campaign.
Well done Saido! Stoke fans will now be hoping that the floodgates open for the striker!