Michael Chopra reveals the story behind THAT goal against Sunderland

Michael Chopra, by his own admission, didn’t fulfil his potential at Newcastle United.
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Yet he fulfilled one several boyhood ambitions during his time at his boyhood club – and his first Premier League goal was as unexpected as it was unforgettable.

Chopra will be long remembered on Tyneside for a goal at the Stadium of Light.

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Newcastle’s 4-1 win over Sunderland on April 17, 2006 is being shown in its entirety on the club’s YouTube channel at 3pm this afternoon.

The game was to be Alan Shearer’s last game for United, with the club’s captain having been forced off with an injury after scoring the last of his 206 goals for Newcastle.

United, then managed by Glenn Roeder, were trailing to a Justin Hoyte strike at the break.

“I remember going in at half time and Glenn Roeder was going mad – we were poor in the first half,” said Chopra, who came on for Lee Clark.

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“I remember Glenn saying to me at half time when all the lads had gone out ‘just make sure you’re ready, just in case’, so I had an inkling I might be getting a chance.

Michael Chopra celebrates his goal against Sunderland.Michael Chopra celebrates his goal against Sunderland.
Michael Chopra celebrates his goal against Sunderland.

“To play for Newcastle against Sunderland was a massive thing for me growing up as a kid. To play in a derby is what dreams are made of. I remember going to bed the night before and having dreams about it. You visualise if chances come along.

“Thankfully I managed to get on the pitch and score within 13 seconds, I think it was.”

The strike came from a long ball into the home box. Chopra said: “I remember coming on and as Clarky’s going off, he’s going mental with Roeder, shouting and swearing at him. As I’m running on, I can hear it.

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“I made contact with Titus (Bramble) as I’ve run straight on the pitch, and I think he’s put it in and it went over the top of Stevie Caldwell’s head.

MIchael Chopra challenges Kelvin Davis.MIchael Chopra challenges Kelvin Davis.
MIchael Chopra challenges Kelvin Davis.

“Kelvin Davis was in two minds as to whether to get it. I’ve thought ‘I’ve got to gamble’. Look, it’s a derby. If I don’t win the ball, the keeper’s getting smashed. I’m front of the fans, and they’ll love it if you smash the keeper.

“Thankfully for me, we’ve collided and it’s pretty much fell to me and I managed to tap it in. It’s pretty much turned the game around.”

A minute later Shearer put Newcastle ahead from the penalty spot, and strikes from Charles N’Zogbia and Albert Luque made it an even more memorable afternoon on Wearside.

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“A couple of minutes later, we’ve got a chance to score another one, and we go 2-1, 3-1, 4-1,” said Chopra, who retired four years ago and still works in football.

Alan Shearer celebrates his penalty.Alan Shearer celebrates his penalty.
Alan Shearer celebrates his penalty.

“When the chance came along it was pretty much a tap in. To score my first Premier League goal for Newcastle against Sunderland, it’s pretty much what dreams are made of.”

“I remember going to the game when Nikos (Dabizas) scored,” said Chopra. “It was at the same end of the ground. I remember going home with my dad saying ‘that must be a great feeling’

“I was training with the first team at the time, and I was speaking to Nikos and asking him how it felt.

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“Thankfully, for me it was my turn. On the team coach going back I was ringing my parents. I was ecstatic. I couldn’t believe it actually happened. As a kid you grow up wanting to play for your hometown club. Then you want to play in the Premier League and score in the Premier League and score in a derby match, and I achieved that.

“I didn’t score many goals for Newcastle, but definitely scored an important one.”

A wild-eyed Chopra celebrated the strike in front of the away end.

“Look, I was lost for words, and you can see all the emotion,” said Chopra. “You can see it my face, and my hair’s all over the place. All I cared about was football. It didn’t bother me. You look at everybody now and their hair’s immaculate.

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“You look at me and this was a boy from Newcastle who was desperate to play for the club. The astonishment in his face shows the passion. It was more special to do it in front of the Newcastle fans as well.”

The goal was one of the highlights of a career which also took him to Sunderland.

“People talk about ‘what’s the best goal you’ve scored?’,” said Chopra. “But I don’t have best goals, I have special moments. That and a goal I scored for Cardiff against Swansea are the two most important moments in my career.

“As much as people want to criticise me, and I didn’t fulfil my potential at Newcastle, no one can ever take away that I made my dreams come true and made my family’s dreams come true.”

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It was a bittersweet afternoon for Newcastle given that Shearer would be forced off with a season-ending injury after scoring. The club’s all-time leading scorer hung up his boots at the end of that campaign.

“When he missed the penalty at St James’s Park, he had always hoped he’d get the chance to take another one against Sunderland,” said Chopra, who would go on to play for Sunderland later in his career. “It was a shame it was his last game, but he’s gone out with a bang.

“It’s good that the club are putting it on YouTube and the younger generation can see how good we were. Not only that, they can see a legend in Alan Shearer play his last game.”

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