Newcastle United recorded a dramatic victory over Norwich City on Wednesday night, scoring twice in stoppage time to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 win.
Yoan Gouffran and Dwight Gayle scored in the 95th and 96th minutes respectively to secure victory in the most stunning of fashions.
And no one seemed to enjoy it more than striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who – through a combination of strength, adrenaline and… well…being Aleksandar Mitrovic – decided to lift manager Rafa Benitez off the ground as if foisting a trapped child from a well.
Perhaps the Serbian is a superhero whose superpower is team-mates’ goals. That certainly explains him celebrating so wildly after Adem Ljajic’s Euro 2016 qualifying goal that he got booked himself.
Not sure if Mitrovic has the strength of Hulk, or Rafa has the flying powers of Superman… #Superheroes #NUFC pic.twitter.com/QxT50j1qci
— DJH (@NUFCDJH) September 28, 2016
Now, as with any iconic footballing photo, the internet was quick to show its photo-editing and captioning prowess.
Sometimes most of your work is done for you, but credit to these efforts.
— Liam Robson (@robbo_07) September 29, 2016
"Nobody puts Mitro in the corner."
Rafa was heard humming " I… had… the time of my life" pic.twitter.com/vwMp3EBbp9
— ToonArmyATL (@ToonArmyATL) September 29, 2016
Heroic Aleksandar Mitrovic rescues helium filled Rafa Benitez from floating across Tyneside. pic.twitter.com/8KVQXtsmLc
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) September 28, 2016
"Your here…there's noooooothing I fear…." #nufc pic.twitter.com/hjirRW2rjf
— Taylor Payne (@TaylorandPayne) September 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/popeformosus/status/781398152242925568
@ThoseScouseLads pic.twitter.com/fLn7DPxNaA
— Liam (@HiamLej) September 28, 2016
The result lifted the Magpies to third in the Championship table, just three points adrift of leaders Huddersfield Town and one behind Wednesday’s opponents.
Gayle’s winner completed a hat-trick for the former Crystal Palace striker, who arrived for £10m over the summer, and brought him level with Bristol City’s Tammy Abraham and Brentford’s former non-league star Scott Hogan at the top of the goalscoring charts.
Newcastle face a trip to Rotherham United next up, with Saturday’s match giving Benitez’s team a chance to extend their current unbeaten run to four games.
Catch up on the first episode of Football Friday Live…
