In the shop window: Job-hunting Hal Robson-Kanu nets historic Wales goal against Belgium
Having been released by Reading only a few days ago, the striker scored as Chris Coleman’s side recorded a 3-1 win to secure a place in the semi-finals
Currently without a club, Wales striker Hal Robson-Kanu placed himself squarely in the shop window with a goal of shimmering audacity in his side’s Euro 2016 quarter-final victory over Belgium.
With the score 1-1 early in the second half in Lille, the 27-year-old gathered a cross from Aaron Ramsey and took three defenders out of the game with an exquisite Cruyff turn before confidently placing a shot past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
It inspired Wales to a 3-1 win that sent them into their first major semi-final, where they will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, and left onlookers hailing one of the greatest goals in Welsh football history.
He described his historic goal modestly, telling a post-match press conference: “The ball’s come into my feet, I managed to turn in the box and put it in the back of the net.”
On his personal future, he said: “I’ve been at Reading for 12 years. I’ve given them a lot of a service and been very loyal.
“But I decided to run my contract down. I have my future in my own hands and that’s where I am with that.”
Dragon roars: Wales stun Belgium 3-1 to reach Euro 2016 semi-finals
Having been released by second-tier Reading when his contract expired earlier this week, Robson-Kanu’s 55th minute strike at a drizzly Stade Pierre-Mauroy completed a remarkable 24 hours.
