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.