High praise for Moukoko after another record falls

Borussia Dortmund interim head coach Edin Terzic has praised young striker Youssoufa Moukoko after he scored a historic goal in Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 Bundesliga defeat at Union Berlin on Friday (December 18). Moukoko is now the Bundesliga’s youngest-ever scorer, at 16 years and 28 days.

The young striker scored from an acute angle from just inside the penalty area to restore parity on the hour-mark, after Taiwo Awoniyi’s opener three minutes earlier. Union went on to win thanks to Marvin Friedrich’s 78th-minute goal but Moukoko – who surpassed the record set by Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (17 years, one month and three days) – earned praise post-match.
“Youssoufa played a really good game,” Terzic told Bundesliga.com.
“The goal that he scored. He had one or two good opportunities where he didn’t get the ball in the first half, then he had a good clear chance and even scored.
“So we’re talking about four chances he had and so we’re very happy with his performance.”
Dortmund midfielder and team-mate Axel Witsel also joined in pouring encomiums on the young attacker.
“Of course, I am happy for him for his first goal,” Witsel said. “I’m sure he’s going to be brilliant for the team and for the future of the club.”

Moukoko had already become the youngest player to appear in the Bundesliga after coming off the bench against Hertha Berlin the day after turning 16 last month in a 5-2 win.

He was named in Dortmund’s starting XI for the first time in the midweek clash against Werder Bremen, a 2-1 victory in Terzic’s first match as coach following Lucien Favre’s sacking.

Earlier this month, Moukoko became the youngest player to appear in the Champions League. He came off the bench in a 2-1 victory at Zenit after 58 minutes, with his 16 years and 18 days old eclipsing the 16 years and 87 days of Celestine Babayaro during the 1994-95 Champions League group stages for Anderlecht.

By Sammy Wejinya

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