Goal of the Year? Pedro Rodriguez Sets Twitter on Fire with Outrageous Backheel Volley in Chelsea Pre-Season Friendly (Watch Video)

Pedro Rodriguez turned back the clocks with an outrageous backheel volley to put Chelsea 4-1 up in their pre-season friendly against RB Salzburg at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Australia. Chelsea were already leading 3-1 in the second half before Pedro finished a brilliant cross from Ross Barkley with a stunner to all but secure the victory. Chelsea eventually won the game 5-3 with new signing Christian Pulisic netting a brace. Chelsea play Manchester United in the English Premier League 2019-20 opener on August 11, 2019.  Chelsea Ban Fan Over Use of Racist Language.

Chelsea ran riot against RB Salzburg scoring as many as three goals in the first half with Pulisic scoring on either-side of earning a penalty that was put to goal by Barkley. The young US international, who was signed from Borussia Dortmund, netted his first goal for Chelsea in the 20^th minute before adding a second eight minutes later.

Pedro's World-Class Finish

But it was Pedro’s worldly backheel that became the talking point of the Chelsea vs RB Salzburg game. The Spaniard scored it from a Barkley cross in the 57^th minute of the game. It has already been described by many as the goal of the pre-season.

The move was initiated by Englishman Barkley, who after playing a quick one-two with Tammy Abraham ran free on the edge of the Salzburg penalty box. The midfielder first beat a rushing defender with a pull-back before teeing up Pedro with a perfect cross only for the 32-year-old to score it off an unconventional yet beautiful backheel. The ball seemed to have moved behind him but Pedro adjusted and pulled out an out of the hat backheel to put Chelsea 4-1 ahead. Twitter busted with praises for the former Barcelona star and lauded the outrageous effort.

What Have You Done

Alternative Angle

Incredible

Maddest Goal Ever

Goal of Pre-Season

Beauty!!

Absolutely Insane Fron Pedro

Lucky to Be Alive Now

Utterly Ridiculous Goal

Goal of the Season

Meanwhile, Michy Batshuayi scored a fifth in the 88^th minute to make it five goals for Chelsea after RB Salzburg threatened to make a game with two late goals. Takumi Minamino scored a brace for the Austrian club after Jerome Onguene had netted the opener. Chelsea are so far are unbeaten in pre-season having beaten Barcelona, Reading and now Salzburg. They finish their pre-season against German side Borussia Monchengladbach before playing United in EPL season opener.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2019 02:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).