Football can be a funny old game and goals are the reason we love the sport so much. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, another moment comes along that just makes you shake your head in disbelief.
But while they may not always be the moments that define the game, they sure as hell are the moments that are ingrained in the fans’ minds.
While footballers strive for perfection, they are, at times, prone to accidents. On that note, take a look at the five most bizarre goals of all time.
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#5 Khalid Askri vs Maghreb Fev
Referred to on YouTube as “the unluckiest keeper” ever, Khalid Askri makes the list after becoming an overnight sensation for all the wrong reasons. The 35-year-old earned that title in 2010 when a pair of mistakes proved costly for his club. Although Khalid didn’t score this goal, he is the one who deserves (or not) credit for it going in.
A cup game between FAR Rabat and Moghreb Fes had gone all the way to penalties and keeper Askri was ready to make himself a hero. Goalkeepers rarely get any glory whatsoever so they really need to soak it in during a penalty shootout – but Askri went too far.
After a brilliant initial save, the goalkeeper walked off celebrating but failed to notice quite where the ball had gone. As he walked off, the wicked spinning ball rolled into the net and the opportunistic Maghreb Fez player took great delight in pointing it out to the referee, who was forced to give the goal – much to the annoyance of the keeper.
The phantom save cost Askri and his team as they went on to lose 7-6 in the shootout to be eliminated in the last 16.
#4 Festus Baise vs Sun Hei
Football has seen some sensational goals being scored over the years including Beckham’s half line goal, Zlatan’s stunning propeller kick vs England, Zidane’s volley vs Leverkusen, Bergkamp’s display of skill and elegance vs Newcastle and many more.
But this goal scored by Festus Baise is easily one of the best own goals in the history of the game. The goal is weird and spectacular in equal parts and warrants a place on this list.
Sun Hei took on Citizen AA in the Hong Kong first division back in 2011 and the latter ran out 3-2 winners but they should have won more comfortably after taking a 3-0 lead with less than fifteen minutes to go.
As the clock ticked down to the final 10 minutes, Sun Hei were on the attack down the right flank when a cross came flying in and Nigerian defender Baise contorted his body and connected with the ball, with a scorpion kick.
The ball met his foot perfectly and floated into the top corner as the goalkeeper was left helpless. Simply sensational stuff. If it had gone into the correct goal, it would be described as one of the greatest goals of all time, but instead, it ranks as one of the best own goals in history.
#3 Mike Hanke vs Bayer Leverkusen
It does not get much crazier than this goal, but to understand the bizarreness of it, the events leading up to the goal need to be fully understood. In the 2003/2004 season, Bayer Leverkusen were 2-1 up against Schalke before Hans-Jorg Butt stepped up to take a penalty for Leverkusen.
The goalkeeper converted it successfully and with the game apparently safe, the big German proceeded to go on a walk-about, high-fiving every teammate in sight, overall very happy with himself.
However, the German proved why keepers should stick to saving goals instead of scoring them as the quick-thinking Schalke duo of Ebbe Sand and Mike Hanke immediately took the kick-off, before the latter lobbed the ball towards the goal. The ball floated above Butt and right into the goal as the bewildered goalkeeper looked on in amazement.
It is tough to determine what’s funnier, Butt’s shocked expression as he stared around the stadium or the fact that his teammates were joining in the mirth and laughter directed towards him. From 2-1 to 3-1 to 3-2 in under 12 seconds makes the entire event even better, but that’s all Schalke got as the match ended in Leverkusen’s favour.
#2 Nani vs Tottenham Hotspur
Nani’s goal against Tottenham for Manchester United has been debated over and over again despite the fact that the event happened over seven years ago. ESPN called the goal a “farce”, BBC called it “controversial” while Spurs’ official website went for the rather tame “bizarre”.
With 85 minutes left on the clock, United were 1-0 up before Nani broke into the box and went down under pressure from Younes Kaboul.
The entire United team screamed penalty but Clattenburg waved the appeal away as a frustrated Nani lay on the ground. However, Heurelho Gomes misunderstood the referee’s decision and believing that he had a free-kick, rolled the ball a few yards forward to take it. As the keeper prepared his run-up, Nani jumped up, looked towards the referee and then knocked the ball into the net.
As it turned out, unfortunately for Gomes, Clattenburg had never blown his whistle and Nani’s goal stood as the Spurs players surrounded the referee while Nani wheeled away in celebration.
#1 Ball boy scores goal for Santacruzense vs Atletico Sorocaba
For any aspiring footballer, being a ball boy is something of a dream job. Free tickets to the game, and getting to rub shoulders with the stars are just a few perks of the job. Then consider the fact that you get to score your side’s last minute equaliser. That just adds icing on the cake.
That’s exactly what happened in Brazil in 2006, in a game between Atletico Sorocaba and Santacruzense, with the former leading till the very last minute.
In the dying minutes of the game, Sorocaba were leading by a single goal and were relieved to watch Santacruzense striker Samuel’s shot zip wide off the goal. However, the drama was not over as a cheeky ball boy decided to bring the ball onto the pitch and calmly sidefoot it into the net.
The referee Silvia Regina de Oliveira – the first female referee in the Brazilian National Championship – had her back turned and when she saw the ball nestling in the back of the net, simply assumed that the shot – which everyone including her had seen go wide – had...erm...actually gone in. The game finished 1-1 and the Brazilian FA were forced to uphold the result but both the referee and the linesmen were suspended.
