Radamel Falcao was otherworldly on Sunday at Estadio Calderon. The Colombian simply did as he pleased all evening, laying waste to the Deportivo La Coruna defense time and time again to score five times in a 6-0 Atletico Madrid mauling.
It was one of the more sensational performances in recent memory and the best goal scoring tally La Liga has seen since 2002 when Fernando Morientes also scored five. Most amazingly, Falcao scored his five goals on just five shots in an uber-efficient and simply mind-blowing show that few will forget.
The match actually started with a non-Falcao goal as Diego Costa headed home to put Atletico in front, but that goal only signaled the start of Falcao's brilliance.
Five minutes after the hosts took the lead, Falcao found himself in behind the defense. A simple finish later and Atletico was 2-0 up. And as would prove more important, Falcao was off the mark.
Just before halftime, Falcao scored his best goal of the match that showed off his sublime skill. The Colombian lined up a 20-yard volley that he absolutely thumped. The shot left the goalkeeper no chance and fired into the back of the net to put Atletico three up at the break.
The second half only meant more Falcao terror for Deportivo, who never managed to reel the Colombian in. Roderick fouled Falcao in the box after the hour mark, which just meant a simple spot kick for Falcao to complete his hat trick, but he was hardly done.
Falcao proved to be opportunistic when Daniel Aranzubia got a hand to Arda Turan's shot. The ball was goalbound, but with a defender in pursuit, Falcao couldn't leve it to chance and he nodded it over the line from a yard out to mak it 5-0 and four goals to him.
To cap off his wonderful evening, Falcao played possum with the Deportivo defense. He collected the ball inside the box before dancing around a series of defenders and back towards the middle, where he slid a shot into the net for a memorable fifth tally.
Falcao's first and fifth goals came just 43 minutes apart, a bombardment of skill, power and sublime finishing on the helpless Deportivo defense. It was an amazing performance that has the Colombian once again making his claim as the best forward in the world. On this day, he certainly was.
The win also means a lot to Atletico, who remain in second place in La Liga, five points ahead of rivals Real Madrid,