Arsenal loanee Mika Biereth scored an unusual goal for Sturm Graz on Friday night, pouncing on a huge goalkeeping error.

Arsenal’s Mika Biereth has made a habit of providing goals and assists for his loan clubs this season, racking up 15 goals and eight assists in his 31 games for Sturm Graz and Motherwell in 2023/24.

Biereth added the latest of his 23 goal contributions by scoring the winner against Rapid Vienna on Friday night, but it was perhaps the easiest goal of the lot.

21-year-old Biereth had struggled to carve out many chances against a resolute Rapid defence, and it looked like another opportunity was going begging as Amady Camara overhit his through ball to the Arsenal loan striker.

Biereth put his hands on his head in disappointment as Rapid goalkeeper Niklas Hedl dived to the floor to claim the pass, and the defence started to turn away.

One Rapid player could be seen applauding Hedl and walking back to his position, believing the chance was over.

Then it all went wrong, as the ball slipped out of Hedl’s hands and straight into Biereth’s path. The striker picked up possession and ran into the empty net, celebrating before he’d even scored and tapping in from a yard out.

Biereth’s goal #AFC pic.twitter.com/SOxqeqsbH9

— AFC LoanWatch (@AFC_Loanwatch) April 20, 2024

The goal was certainly a bizarre gift, but it was vital for Sturm, as it put them three points clear at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga ahead of RB Salzburg’s game in hand later in the weekend.

The title race is at full throttle, with five games remaining and barely anything in it. Sturm also have an Austrian Cup final coming up against Rapid on May 1st.