Sofiane Boufal’s superb solo effort for Southampton against West Bromwich Albion has won the Carling Goal of the Season award.
Picking the ball up midway inside his own half, the winger twisted and turned past five challenges before completing his 60-metre run with a fine finish into the bottom far corner.
It was the Carling Goal of the Month for October and claimed the season award from a shortlist of the eight other monthly winners of 2017/18.
It won thanks to the combined votes of a panel of experts and the public, who picked their favourite via the Carling Tap or the Carling website.
One panel member, Dion Dublin, explained why Boufal’s goal was worthy of the award.
"Not only does Boufal show great skill, balance and awareness to beat so many West Brom men," the former Premier League striker said. "He then, having ran more than half the length of the pitch, still has the composure to look up and take the ball inside another defender and into the only little slot available to him, put it past the 'keeper.
"A very special goal. To do that takes a lot of not just physical strength but mental strength as well."
Boufal follows Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, who won the EA SPORTS Player and Barclays Manager of the Season awards respectively.
Reiss Nelson, of Arsenal, claimed the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award.
Where does Sofiane Boufal's @carling Goal of the Season rank amongst these special solo efforts❓ pic.twitter.com/Q3u6S89FKv
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 19, 2018
