Dortmund sensation Moukoko earns praise after making Bundesliga history

Borussia Dortmund interim head coach Edin Terzic and Axel Witsel lauded Youssoufa Moukoko following his historic Bundesliga performance.

Moukoko became the Bundesliga’s youngest ever scorer in Dortmund’s 2-1 defeat at Union Berlin on Friday, aged 16 years and 28 days.

The prodigious striker lashed home a ferocious shot from just inside the penalty area to restore parity on the hour-mark, after Taiwo Awoniyi’s opener three minutes earlier.

Union went on to win thanks to Marvin Friedrich’s 78th-minute goal but Moukoko – who surpassed the record set by Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (17 years, one month and three days) – earned praise post-match.

“Youssoufa played a really good game,” Terzic told Bundesliga.com.

“The goal that he scored. He had one or two good opportunities where he didn’t get the ball in the first half, then he had a good clear chance and even scored.

“So we’re talking about four chances he had and so we’re very happy with his performance.”

1 – Youssoufa #Moukoko scores his 1st @Bundesliga_EN goal. At the age of 16y 28d, he becomes the youngest goal scorer in Bundesliga history. Historic. #FCUBVB pic.twitter.com/YTqzMgo8EC

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 18, 2020

Dortmund midfielder and team-mate Witsel added: “Of course, I am happy for him for his first goal.

“I’m sure he’s going to be brilliant for the team and for the future of the club.”

Moukoko had already become the youngest player to appear in the Bundesliga after coming off the bench against Hertha Berlin the day after turning 16 last month in a 5-2 win.

He was named in Dortmund’s starting XI for the first time in the midweek clash against Werder Bremen, a 2-1 victory in Terzic’s first match as coach following Lucien Favre’s sacking.

Earlier this month, Moukoko became the youngest player to appear in the Champions League. He came off the bench in a 2-1 victory at Zenit after 58 minutes, with his 16 years and 18 days old eclipsing the 16 years and 87 days of Celestine Babayaro during the 1994-95 Champions League group stages for Anderlecht.