The words “underrated” and “under appreciated” are thrown around a lot in football whenever there is a discussion on goal keepers and their importance to the team. Arguably the most unglamorous job in football, a goal keeper is usually the last person to get appreciated in a team’s victory and the first person to get blamed during defeats. The role of a goal keeper is more important than ever with teams looking for more than the ability to stop shots, thanks to Manuel Neuer’s huge success as a goal keeper. There has been moments where goal keepers have contributed on the opposite end of the pitch with unforgettable goals. In this article, we will look at five such goals which stunned everyone,
Note:- Some greatest goals by goal keepers have been scored in second or third division of a nation’s league but only first division or cup competition goals have been considered.
5. Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo vs Cornithians,2011)
Ceni is one among the very few goal keepers who took free kicks and were pretty good at it too. He had a professional career spanning 25 years and was a one club man with 1198 appearances for Sao Paulo. Remarkably, he scored 131 goals in his career with most of them coming from free kicks. It is tough to pick one among his illustrious goals but the free kick against Cronithians stands out for a variety of reasons. Cornithians are the arch rivals of Sao Paulo and the freekick was the winner in a pulsating game. The way the ball curved into the top left corner would make any elite outfield player proud.
4. Peter Schmeichel (Aston Villa vs Everton, 2001)
Schmeichel is known primarily for his memorable time at Manchester United, but the highlight of his career came at Aston Villa. Villa were down two goals against the Merseyside Blues when Schmeichel gave them a consolation goal. The corner kick was delivered into the box crowded with outfield players while Schmeichel remained away from the crowd. The ball was deflected by one of Schmeichel’s team mates and he beautifully adjusted himself to slot the ball into the near post from a tough angle.
3. Tim Howard (Everton vs Bolton Wanderers, 2012)
The most freakish goal ever seen in Premier League, Howard’s shot from over a hundred yards somehow made it’s way into the opposite net thanks to some horrible misjudgment from Bolton Wanderers shot stopper Adam Bogdan. Whether Howard tried for a long ball or it was just a standard clearance is hard to interpret but the bounce on the ball bemused everyone. Curiously, Howard did not celebrate the goal, one of those rare moments where even the goal scorer had no clue about the goal.
2. Andres Palop ( Sevilla vs Shaktar Donetsk, 2007)
The 2006/07 UEFA Cup Round of 16 second leg between Sevilla and Shaktar Donetsk was an absolute thriller that ended with a really dramatic goal. The first leg was tied 2-2 and a similar score line in the second leg meant the match went into extra time. Time was running out and Sevilla got a corner in the last minute of the game. Amidst the chaos in the penalty box, Palop ran away from the marker and headed the ball neatly into the net to take his team to quarter-finals. Sevilla would eventually go on to win the competition, courtesy of their goal keeper’s brilliance.
1. Martin Hansen ( Ado Den Haag vs PSV Eindhoven,2015 )
A goal that deserves more appreciation from football fans, Hansen’s incredible running back-heel against Champions PSV was a thing of beauty. Ado Den Haag were trailing 2-1 against PSV at home when they got a free kick and Hansen joined his team mates inside the box to try and save a point for his team. The manner in which he saved a point is a moment for the ages as he ran away from the crowd and flicked the ball into the back of the net. Sadly, if a famous attacking player had produced something this good, it would be remembered forever.
