Merkulov on Khusanov’s FA Cup goal: Fortunate coincidence

Former Energetik-BGU head coach Alexei Merkulov shared his thoughts on the first goal scored by Uzbek defender Abdukadir Khusanov in Manchester City’s FA Cup 1/16 final victory against Leyton Orient (2:1).

“No one denies that luck plays a role in football. Khusanov's contribution should neither be overestimated nor underestimated. I will only say this—if the ball had not hit Abdukadir, the goalkeeper would most likely have saved the shot. It was a ricochet that led to the goal. I hope this moment helps Khusanov secure a more stable place in the team,” Merkulov commented.

For reference, in the FA Cup 4th round match against Leyton Orient on February 8, Khusanov entered the game in the second half and scored his first goal for Manchester City in the 56th minute. More specifically, after a shot by Rico Lewis, the ball deflected off Khusanov’s shoulder and ended up in the net.

It was previously reported how Khusanov’s overall performance in the match was evaluated.