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Kobbie Mainoo scored a worldie against Liverpool last Sunday, but Federico Macheda scored a similar goal to help Manchester United win the league 15 years before.
Kobbie Mainoo's recent goal against Liverpool has drawn striking parallels to a famous moment in Manchester United's history, prompting the club's website to create a mirrored montage comparing the two.
Former United striker Federico Macheda found himself inundated with reminders of his own iconic goal.
The date was April 5, 2009, and Manchester United were trailing 2-1 against Aston Villa at Old Trafford. In a crucial match, 17-year-old Macheda was brought on for his United debut, joining forces up front with Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.
With Wayne Rooney suspended and Dimitar Berbatov injured, United's desperation for a win was palpable, having lost their last two matches and slipped behind Liverpool in the league standings.
Macheda's inclusion on the bench was a result of his promising performances in the reserves, under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Having moved from Italy with his family at the age of 15, Macheda was steadily acclimating to life in England, impressing Sir Alex Ferguson enough to earn a place among the substitutes against Villa after a stellar display against Newcastle United's reserves, where he scored a hat-trick.
With the clock ticking and United in dire need of a victory, Ronaldo equalized to make it 2-2 after 80 minutes.
But the Red Devils were hungry for more. In a thrilling climax, Patrice Evra played a crucial forward pass to Michael Carrick, who then found Gary Neville with a precise ball.
The Old Trafford faithful roared as United relentlessly pressed forward. In the 90th minute, Macheda etched his name into United folklore by netting the winning goal against Aston Villa.
The 3-2 triumph propelled United back to the top of the league, a position they would maintain until the end of the season.
Despite his youthful heroics, Macheda's United career saw him make 36 appearances and score five goals, with his final goal coming in a Champions League match against Cluj in 2012.
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Loan spells followed at various clubs including Sampdoria, Queens Park Rangers, Stuttgart, Doncaster Rovers, Birmingham City, and Cardiff City, where he reunited with Solskjaer. Macheda's football journey took him to Nottingham Forest, Novara, and Panathinaikos before eventually moving to Turkey in 2022.
As Mainoo's goal rekindles memories of Macheda's magic, it serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Manchester United's storied history, where moments of brilliance on the pitch become immortalized in the hearts of fans worldwide.
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