Dimitri Payet's reputation for set-pieces has gone from capable to rlegendary in the space of a year.
The Frenchman had a stellar season in the Premier League last year and his goals helped West Ham finish in seventh position.
By his own admission, Payet says he does not practise his freekicks and this is key in making them so lethal. Among the teams he has stunned with a dead ball are Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.
Last night, the 29-year-old picked up where he left off from last season and notched another exquisite goal to bail his side out of trouble in the EFL Cup.
The Hammers welcomed Accrington Stanley to the Olympic Stadium last night and found it difficult to break down the well drilled League Two side.
Accrington were hoping to hold out for extra time and perhaps the chance to sneak through on penalties before Payet popped up the the 96th minute of the game.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Payet produced another moment of magic in front of a raucous home crowd.
Dimitri Payet: Free-kick specialist! 🔥 The midfielder won it for @WestHamUtd last night with this stunner. 💪https://t.co/8GGYbjqfIM
— Top Eleven (@topeleven) September 22, 2016
According to Opta Stats, Dimitri Payet has now scored seven goals from direct free-kicks for West Ham and the French national team since the start of 2015-16.
It almost looks better from another angle as well.
Well we defiantly made that hard work. But brilliant free kick by Payet in the last minute. 1-0 #COYI pic.twitter.com/WViDG587qr
— Sophie Olley (@SophieOlley) September 21, 2016
