by Staff Writer
Wednesday, 26th March 2025
It's 25 years to the day that Paolo Di Canio scored one of the greatest goals ever to grace the Boleyn Ground.
An otherwise mundane fixture against Wimbledon became the stuff of legend when the Italian forward scored an incredible, airborne volley that left watching fans gasping at its sheer audacity.
A goal that probably only Di Canio could've scored - although Glenn Hoddle, who scored a similar effort for Tottenham against Nottingham Forest many years earlier may disagree - it arrived after just nine minutes in a televised-live, Sunday afternoon clash.
Flying winger Trevor Sinclair, who would go on to represent England at the World Cup Finals two years later supplied the delivery that led to Di Canio's strike.
A beautifully-timed, cross-field pass arrived perfectly for Di Canio to fire home, leaving Dons' 'keeper Neil Sullivan grasping at thin air as the ball flew across and beyond him.
Looking back on the goal, West Ham's former #10 admitted that it was one of his best during a playing career that spanned some 23 years.
"The delivery was a typical English delivery, you know, as it was a delivery that started and arrived quickly," he said of Sinclair's brilliant pass that led to his strike.
"In an instant, I saw this ball arrive and I did a bicycle volley instinctively. The difficulty percentage 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 [frequently still], because it was pretty much a perfect strike."
West Ham went on to win the game 2-1 thanks to Di Canio's wonder-goal and Freddie Kanoute's 59th-minute header, which cannoned off the underside of the crossbar.
Although former Hammer Michael Hughes halved the deficit with a 25-yard volley 15 minutes from the end of normal time, West Ham - who were denied THREE penalty shots by official Rob Harris (who had sent THREE Hammers off the season before against Leeds) - held on to secure only a third home win in 11 against the Dons.
You may watch Di Canio's wonder strike once again, below. Were you there, that day? Add your memories on this KUMB Forum thread.
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