Based on the evidence here, Sofiane Boufal’s Southampton career is something of a slow burn. The Moroccan attacker arrived last season for a club-record fee of over $21 million. He then scored one Premier League goal in 24 matches for the Saints. But Boufal has already matched that total this season thanks to a match-winner against West Brom that could ultimately stand as the EPL Goal of the Season.
With the match level at 0-0, Boufal was brought on by manager Mauricio Pellegrino in the 81st minute with the Saints struggling to breakdown Tony Pulis’ Baggies. You can safely say that Boufal managed to bring a spark.
Receiving the ball deep in his own half, Boufal turned between two defenders before racing away from a third and fourth. He then takes the ball past defender Craig Dawson, causing the tracking Allan Nyom to obliterate the aforementioned Dawson.
It’s then Gareth McAuley’s turn to get taken to the cleaners while Ahmed Hegazi can only flounder in the face of Boufal’s composed finish beyond Ben Foster in net. Have you ever seen a Tony Pulis side made to look this ridiculous?
All on his own! What a goal by Sofiane Boufal! #SOUWBA pic.twitter.com/qwFkfbvSps
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 21, 2017
Last season, Boufal won Southampton’s Goal of the Season award for a strike against Sunderland in the League Cup. It looks like he’ll bag that award for the second-year running.
The victory pulled Southampton up to 10th in the EPL table while West Brom falls to 13th.