Goodwillie netted United's first equaliser in a 2-2 quarter-final draw against Motherwell with an acrobatic effort just before half-time, which took Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph and the rest of Tannadice by surprise.
The Scotland international netted from just outside the six-yard box after beating Shaun Hutchinson to Craig Conway's cross, instantly drawing comparisons with Wayne Rooney's effort in the recent Manchester derby.
Houston said: "He has come out with a sublime overhead kick. It was fantastic technique. Wayne Rooney took a lot of credit for that and Goodwillie has got to do the same.
"We were right behind it, it was a hopeful cross into the box, I'm thinking `what are you going to do, are you going to take it down?' All of a sudden I see him taking off.
"He did the exact same thing against Aberdeen on Monday night and hit the post. So he has got it in him, Motherwell should have known!"
Source: PA
Source: PA