UEFA Cup: Adriano's Goal
 

Anyone else catch this last night. My jaw dropped on this play. Polop caught a corner, made a couple steps and threw the ball out to the left as far as he could throw it. Adriano, a fullback (a defensive position on the backline for you non-footies) ran the entire length of the pitch, outrunning Espanyol's entire team to the ball, ran through a tackle, then came in from the far left side to the goal, and shot the ball around the keeper with his right foot while coming in from the left on a full run and stuck it in the goal. To score a goal as precisely as that, with his off foot, after a full 100 yard or so sprint outrunning an entire team, from a defender is one of the most remarkable single athletic feats I have ever seen. As I said, it was jaw dropping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlNgqL_2c9A

Ok.... You are based in Norfolk I guess ;)

Dola - I should elaborate - that sounds very dismissive

His pace is very impressive - but that's the only standout on the goal for me. He beat in effect two guys, it was an excellent counter attacking run, but the defender took a horrible angle.

And a Brazilian full back playing for one of top teams in Europe should be able to kick the ball with both feet, espcially in the space he had once he outran the slow guy and the poor angle guy.

It was nice, but IMHO not particularly extraordinary.

And the Norfolk reference was in relation to the more agricultural nature of the area, and therefore lack of excitement, rather than anything personal.

Glad it wasn't just my lack of soccer savvy that wasn't super impressed. I'm sure it looked better in person or if I'd see it on TV.

I loved the run and the counterattack - that was impressive. But the off-footed pass into the net (while clinical) was not that impressive. You italicized it in your description as the most impressive part. I found that the least impressive part. A slight curving side-foot into the net from close range (even on the run) we've seen a million times in the pro and semi pro game. I certainly would not call it one of the "most remarkable single athletic feats I have ever seen." I think I actually have done it a few times myself.

Good goal, but it didn't blow me away like it did you. But i watch Dimitar Berbatov play all the time, so im spoiled.

I think the most impressive part was the THROW.

you guys are just haters aight that shit was OFF THE CHAIN

Sevillas' keeper Palop has been incredible in the full UEFA competition, if you guys remember, he scored a header goal in the last minute in the semi-finals, that ended classifing his team Sevilla to the final round. For those not into soccer, it's really really rare for a goalkeeper to score a goal, even more a header. It's like if a GK in hockey goes all attack in the last play of the game to score the final goal for the win.

Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PExFRbs1jLw

He also stopped 3 penalties yesterday to give the UEFA title to his team.

I'm happy about him, he has been a backup most of his career and it's now when he is an old vet when he is shinning after Sevilla's coach gave him the starting spot.

haha dammit pumpy

Also if you want to see the best goal of the year in Spain, look at this one from Barcelona's Messi, it's exactly like the famous goal from Maradona in the World cup that made history, from the middle camp to scoring while dribbling tons of defenders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vd-A...elated&search=

And now that i'm at it in yotube, some of the most stupid soccer goals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usyGoMdYh3M

OK:

on the first goal, I agree that the most impressive part was the throw. That was an incredible start by the keeper.

The Messi goal was incredible, but I am depressed I heard an announcer die of a siezure during the goal.

The dumb goals were really dumb. No doubt about it.

Depends on circumstances... if he's not taking a penalty or a free kick, then he'll typically score off of a set piece in stoppage time, so a header shouldn't be uncommon.

I know Brad Friedel once scored a levelling goal for Blackburn (and then, if I remember right, Rovers went back and gave up another goal to lose the match).

That last goal was awesome

Wow. I shudder at the to attempt to fathom a midfield with Messi, Cesc and Fran Merida together. That's not even taking Dos Santos into account.

But I await the arrival of Bojan Krkić.

That's one hell of a youth setup. For the record, no, I'm not a fan of theirs.

Unrelated to the primary topic but on the train of nice goals, check out Martin Palermo's goal on Oscar Usturi.

That "gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol gol" shit has GOT to stop.