Samuelsen Stunner Secures Stunning Win
Peterborough United scored three stunning goals as Graham Westley's men secured a superb 3-2 success at Brammal Lane against Sheffield United.Substitute Martin Samuselsen scored an unbelievable solo effort, less than a minute after an unfortunate Jack Baldwin own goal had pegged Posh back to 2-2.
Conor Washington and Erhun Oztumer had earlier both produced ferocious efforts from long range as Posh made their plea to win the Mitre Goal of the Year in 2016.
On a slick surface, it was the Blades who made the brighter start, pinning Posh back with Billy Sharp firing over from 25-yards after creating space with a neat touch on the edge of the box.
However, on 17 minutes, it was Graham Westley's men who opened the scoring and what a goal it was too. Conor WASHINGTON collected the ball 25-yards from goal and let fly with a stupendous strike over Long and into the back of the net.
Fox then fired into the side-netting at the back post after a cross from the right as Posh came close to an immediate second goal.
A Maddison pass found Washington on 24 minutes, but Long did well to smother before Edgar hacked clear as Taylor tried to pounce on the loose ball.
Alnwick was well positioned to deny Basham's hooked volley before Sharp struck the inside of the post with a low effort from 10-yards as Posh struggled to clear.
Alnwick produced a fine stop to deny Edgar as Posh gifted the Blades a succession of corner kicks by overplaying in tight areas at the back.
On 32 minutes, the Blades were awarded what appeared to be quite a soft penalty kick as SHARP went down under a challenge from Smith. The striker stepped up and smashed the penalty straight down the middle to level the scores.
Alnwick produced a fine stop to deny a Coutts free-kick on 38 minutes after Almeida Santos had gone into the book for a trip.
On 42 minutes, Basham somehow headed a Woolford free-kick wide of the target when completely unmarked as Posh had another almighty let-off.
Oztumer fired a free-kick well over the bar as the first half moved into two minutes of added time.
Graham Westley made a change at the interval with new signing Lawrie Wilson replacing Fox at left-back.
Forrester fired over from 25-yards after a good patient build-up involving Maddison and Oztumer moments after the re-start.
Four minutes after the re-start, Posh were back in front and if you thought Washington's strike was a good one, this effort from Erhun OZTUMER could be the goal of the season. The former Dulwich man, collected the ball 30-yards from goal, assessed the options and then produced a stunning strike into the top corner.
The Blades made a change on 56 minutes with Jose Baxter replacing Sammon. Maddison fired wide from 25-yards after a neat touch from Forrester moments later.
Maddison saw a shot beaten away by Long after a swift Posh counter attack which began with a neat pass from Oztumer.
Sharp fired a volley straight at Alnwick on 75 minutes after a deep cross from Woolford. Martin Samuelsen replaced Maddison on 78 minutes as Westley made his second change of the afternoon.
The home side drew themselves level on 85 minutes and the luck was definitely with the Blades, Adams stabbed the ball goalwards, but it wasn't going in until it hit Baldwin on the forehead and trickled into the net.
However, if you thought Oztumer and Washington had the right for the goal of the game they were very much mistaken. Leo Messi would be proud of what Martin SAMUELSEN just did, twisting and turning past a number of challenges and then rifling the ball past Long with his left-foot.
Forrester limped out of the action with cramp to be replaced by Miles Addison as six minutes of injury time was signalled by the fourth official.
Sheffield United: Long, Brayford, Basham, Coutts, Sharp, Collins, Woolford, Sammon (sub Baxter 56min), McEveley (sub Adams 72min), Edgar, Hammond. Unused subs: Howard, Flynn, Campbell-Ryce, Reed, Wallace.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Almeida Santos, Baldwin, Fox (sub Wilson 46min), Forrester (sub Addison 89min), Oztumer, Taylor, Maddison (sub Samuelsen 78min), Beautyman, Washington. Unused subs: Henry, Nicholson, Coulibaly, Angol.
Half-time: Sheffield United 1-1 Peterborough United
Full-time: Sheffield United 2-3 Peterborough United
Attendance: 22,302 (1,400 Posh fans)