'People around the world know me because of my goal at Chelsea. I still can’t explain it, though. Drogba even asked me, 'Who are you? What did you eat?"' Newcastle cult hero Papiss Cisse recalls iconic strike at Stamford Bridge

A dejected looking John Terry of Chelsea after Papiss Demba Cisse of Newcastle United scores a goal to make it 0-2 (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
Chelsea players walk away as Newcastle celebrate (Image credit: Getty Images)

Newcastle turned up at Stamford Bridge in May 2012 knowing victory would give them a strong chance of finishing fifth in the Premier League and qualifying for Europe under Alan Pardew.

With Chelsea preparing for the FA Cup final against Liverpool just a few days later, Newcastle's were buoyed as Blues manager Roberto Di Matteo rested Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Juan Mata.

It still took two unbelievable goals from Papiss Cisse to win the game for Newcastle, however, with the Senegalese striker scoring in each half to help the Magpies win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge for the first time in the league since 1986 - with the second of his strikes earning him cult status and the 2011/12 Premier League Goal of the Season award.

Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse 'can't explain' goal against Chelsea

Papiss Cisse celebrates after scoring for Newcastle against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in May 2012.

Cisse celebrates his goal at Stamford Bridge (Image credit: Getty Images)

After dispatching a brilliant volley in the first half on his weaker left foot, Cisse then produced the unthinkable in stoppage time of the full 90 minutes when he hit a half-time volley with the outside of his foot from the corner of the 18-yard box. In doing so, he lobbed Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal, with the distance later clocked at 37 yards.

"That goal is my passport," Papiss Cisse exclaims, exclusively in conversation with FourFourTwo. "People around the world know me because of it.

Newcastle forward Papiss Cisse celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Sports Direct Arena on February 25, 2012 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Cisse was in great form when he first arrived at Newcastle (Image credit: Getty Images)

"As a striker, my first goal was perfect; with the second, I was lucky. The ball came to Shola Ameobi’s chest and he dropped it to me. I didn’t think twice: I took the shot and it went in. It was a great night against a big team and goalkeeper.

"Afterwards, Didier Drogba even asked me, 'Who are you? What did you eat?' I still can’t explain that goal. People will score great goals, but that finish is only for me – it can’t happen to anyone else."

Cisse never quite managed to hit those same heights in the rest of his career, but those first six months saw him bag 13 Premier League goals in just 14 games, a remarkable return considering he had signed for £9.3m in January midway through that season.

The striker's form wasn't a surprise to himself, however, having had to reject a Bayern Munich transfer while still at Freiburg in the same season.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Papiss Cisse of Newcastle scores the opening goal despite the efforts from Branislav Ivanovic (L) and John Terry of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on May 2, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

The first goal Cisse scored at Stamford Bridge (Image credit: Getty Images)

"I’d actually turned down a move to Bayern Munich earlier that year to go to the Africa Cup of Nations," Cisse says. "Bayern were interested in me, but only if I agreed to stay in Germany instead of going to the tournament.

"Then, even though I was the top scorer in qualification, I didn’t play until the last group match! I told a friend, 'Look what’s going to happen at Newcastle – I’m going to score all the goals there that I didn’t score here.' My hunger came from not playing. I wanted to show I was ready. Some people were surprised by how well I did, but I was doing the exact same thing at Freiburg."

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future. 

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