League One star scores ‘prime Zlatan Ibrahimovic’ worldie in FA Cup stunner

Birmingham City striker Lyndon Dykes channelled ‘prime Zlatan Ibrahimovic’ as his stunning strike saw Blues progress in the FA Cup

Birmingham City striker Lyndon Dykes scored a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-esque goal in the FA Cup win against Lincoln City.

The all-League One third-round tie relied on a moment of magic to win the game from Dykes. The Scotland international has found minutes hard to come by at Birmingham since arriving from QPR in the summer but has made the perfect case to receive more minutes.

Birmingham led since the opening minute after Ayumu Yokoyama put Blues ahead in the first minute before the two teams toiled for another 75 minutes. But it was the hosts who found the next goal as Dykes doubled Birmingham’s advantage.

Shrugging off the defender to receive a long pass on his chest and taking the ball under his spell, Dykes flicked the ball over a second on-rushing Lincoln defender. The 29-year-old then put his body between a covering midfielder before firing towards goals on the volley.

Dykes’ looping effort flew over Zach Jeacock and nestled into the back of the net, raising the roof at St Andrew’s.

The Scot took the acclaim of the fans as his team-mates rushed over to celebrate with him. Dykes’ goal proved to be the difference as the Imps failed to stage an injury-time comeback after Jovo Makama halved the deficit from the spot.

Fans took to X to rave over Dykes strike, with one lauding his effort like “Prime Zlatan Ibrahimovic”. A second added: “Crown him now, Lyndon Puskas Dykes.” While a third quipped: “How can he do nothing all season and then do this”.

The strike was only the fourth goal Dykes has scored this season for Blues. The former Championship bagsman has started just five times since his summer move in the league, finding himself behind the likes of Alfie May and £15million record signing Jay Stansfield.

But he’s more than taken his chance when it arrived, making it goals in successive FA Cup ties after scoring the opener against Blackpool in the previous round. However, he’s yet to find the back of the net in the league this campaign despite Birmingham topping the third tier by two points and having two games in hand.

Birmingham have booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup alongside the likes of Liverpool, who avoided an upset against League Two Accrington Stanley on Saturday with a 4-0 win at Anfield.