Di Canio relives “perfect” West Ham goal

Di Canio relives “perfect” West Ham goal

West Ham United legend Paolo Di Canio has relived his famous Hammers goal against Wimbledon, describing the wonder strike as “pretty much perfect”.

Eighteen years to the day, the Italian’s produced one of most iconic moments in recent West Ham history when he thumped home a sensational goal against Wimbledon.

Only nine minutes had passed at the Boleyn Ground when Di Canio thumped home an audacious scissor-kick from Trevor Sinclair’s lofted ball forward which nestled into the bottom corner past Neil Sullivan.

Harry Redknapp’s side went on to win the game 2-1, with Frederic Kanoute getting the home side’s other goal.



In May 2016, the goal was named the greatest in Boleyn Ground history and honoured during the stadium’s closing ceremony.

The strike was one of many for Di Canio in a claret and blue shirt – 52 to be precise – but the former Italy international recalls it far better than any of his others.

“The Wimbledon goal was very good!” he confirmed in typical Di Canio fashion, “The delivery was a typical English delivery, you know, as it was a delivery that started and arrived quickly.

“In an instant, I saw this ball arrive and I did a bicycle volley instinctively and the percentage of the difficulty is 99 per cent. But, if you see the change in the air, it is a harmony that only the dancer can have.

“I can understand in England why they show this because it was pretty much a perfect strike.”