Athlone Town's Taner Dogan channels David Beckham with stunning goal from half-way line
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Athlone Town's Taner Dogan channels David Beckham with stunning goal from half-way line

REMEMBER THE name Taner Dogan. 

A Harvard graduate who moved over to Ireland to play for Dundalk back in June, Dogan is currently on loan at second tier side Athlone Town. 

He’s already impressing too, after scoring in sensational style during a shock 2-0 win over promotion favourites Drogheda United. 

Though Athlone Town were under the cosh for large periods of the game, a moment of sublime skill from Dogan helped change the course of the game. 

Leading a counter-attack against Drogheda inside his own half, Dogan spotted opposition goalkeeper David Odumosu off his line and decided to go for goal. 

Lobbing the goalkeeper from close to the half-way line, Dogan hit the perfect lob, sending the ball sailing over the panic-stricken Odumosu. 

It was a moment to savour, doubling Athlone’s lead and wrapping up an important win in the process – just their third of the season. 

The goal was also strangely reminiscent of the one David Beckham scored for Manchester United against Wimbledon on the opening day of the 1996/97 season. 

It was a goal that announced Beckham on the world stage and Dogan could be set for similar. 

In the meantime, he’ll be focusing on helping improve Athlone Town’s league form with the club currently down in eighth. 

Drogheda, meanwhile, will be licking their wounds after a defeat that saw them slip to second in the table, just behind promotion rivals Bray Wanderers.