Video: Has the Puskás been decided early? A goal from another world in England

The best goal of 2026

Dominic Ballard stole the spotlight during the clash between Bristol City and Birmingham City. His stunning goal in the closing minutes helped the match end 2-2 today, Saturday, and marked his arrival at his new club in exceptional fashion.

It came in the 85th minute. Rio Cardines swung a cross into the box, and Ballard, with his back to goal, redirected it with a wonderful backheel flick before unleashing a powerful shot into the top corner of James Beadle's net, as the Bristol City fans erupted.

The strike was the 21-year-old's first for Bristol since arriving from Leyton Orient in early August. It handed his side an advantage he thought would carry them to their first win of the season, following a 2-0 defeat to Millwall in the opening round.

Bristol's joy did not last. Birmingham hit back in stoppage time, winning a penalty in the 94th minute that Demarai Gray tucked away to level things up. The match finished 2-2, a point apiece.

Even with the win slipping away at the death, Bristol City walked out of St Andrew's with a moment their fans will treasure for a long time. Ballard produced one of the finest goals of the round, and perhaps one of the standout goals of the season in the English Championship so far.