Man United fans vote Ighalo's Europa Cup strike as the club's match goal of the month

MANCHESTER United fans have voted Odion Ighalo's strike against Austrian side Lask in the 5-0 victory during the Europa Cup game on the 12th of this month as the winner of the club's March goal on the month award.

In one of the few games in which he started, Ighalo scored in that match, finding the back of the net in the 28th minute. In an online poll on Manchester United's official website, 32% of fans’ voted for Ighalo's goal, enabling it to emerge the winner of the competition.

Ighalo beat off competition from Scott McTominay, whose memorable late goal against Manchester City received 26% of votes. Bruno Fernandes’ first strike from open play for the Reds, at Everton, finished third in the poll with 16% of votes.

Also, Ighalo’s award-winning goal, coupled with a later assist for Daniel James in the same game, earned him a place in the Europa League Team of the Week. After the match, former Reds midfielder Owen Hargreaves compared Ighalo to an African Premier League great from the past who was renowned for netting incredible goals for Leeds United.

Hargreaves said: “That is a beautiful goal. It is one of the best goals he has ever scored, it was like Tony Yeboah."

Ighalo is United’s eighth different Goal of the Month winner this season and the first player to claim the prize with an effort from the Europa League. There are now suggestions that the club may be looking to extend his loan spell at the end of the season by offering him a permanent contract.