Football: The great forgotten goals

Goals are the currency of football. Logic dictates that the more you receive and the less you give makes you greedy yet successful, and the more you give and the less you receive makes you kind and generous. If we were to go by that definition, footballers would have to be referred to as the kind ones, as in this system, unlike any other, the less you receive, the better it is. The plight of many teams is determined solely by the final scoreline. As they say,”The final result is the only thing that matters”. The headlines of the newspapers and numerous sport websites all highlight the final outcome of the game, giving a sparse picture of what happened in the span of 90 minutes.

Well taken, technical goals are rare and are without any hint of a doubt the difference between the two teams on a field. Bergkamp’s inhuman turn and goal against Newcastle is still rooted in the hearts of Arsenal supporters. Cristiano Ronaldo‘s long range wonder-strike against FC Porto which won him the Puskas award, Thierry Henry’s wonderful goal against Manchester United all stand out and are remembered by fans. These are just a few instances out of a whole constellation of great goals. But in that constellation lie some goals which may not be remembered as they have been pushed out of history’s gaze by wider events of the games that hosted them. I have listed a few goals which were overshadowed by either controversial decisions or something that happened to be more significant than the goal. Please note, the goals are not in chronological order.

1) Hernan Crespo – Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (Champions League finals 2005)

That has to be one of the most heroic comebacks the world has ever witnessed. The world recollects the flabbergasting runs of Steven Gerrard, the match that introduced Xabi Alonso to the world, the five minutes of competence from Jerzy Dudek during the penalty shootout and probably the wake up call to Harry Kewell. A match of epic proportions, ultimately decided on penalties. However, in all of the six goals scored on the night, Hernan Crespo’s goal to add to Milan’s 2-0 scoreline stood above the rest.

A moment of brilliance from Kaka, the delicately supreme turn, his vision to spot Hernan and his accuracy to produce a 35 yard pass to perfection as it split the already confused Liverpool defense, landing right at the path of Crespo who then dinks one over Dudek with so much composure – Exquisite.

The night is forever etched in the hearts of the Liverpool supporters as it remarkably increased their reign of dominance of Europe to 5, more than any other English club. But that fact overshadowed Crespo’s wonderfully taken goal, and Kaka’s brilliance.

2) Dejan Stankovic – Schalke 04 5-2 Inter Milan (Champions League Quarter finals 2011)

This goal defies description. Just seconds after kick-off, Milito put pressure on Manuel Neuer, who decided to head the ball clear. The ball slithered towards an alert Stankovic. Within a second, he noticed that Neuer was off his line, chanced his arm (or leg, perhaps), and produced a thunderous volley. The ball just glided into the back of the net, straight in! It was a night that began on a high – the floodgates were opened. The goal came in a losing cause as Schalke went on to beat Inter Milan with an emphatic scoreline of 5-2. But that was the start the game demanded. Stankovic might not be a significant player in terms of popularity but that screamer of his is sure to cement his name in the annals of great goals scored.

3) Zindine Zidane – France 1-1 Italy (FIFA World Cup finals 2006)

This match had contrasting differences that reflected the career of a footballing great, ready to bid farewell to the world after successfully guiding his country to the finals of the most coveted tournament in the history of the sport. The stage was set, the whole of France was ready to say adieu to the most celebrated and talented midfielder to have ever graced the game, Zinedine Zidane. How better to end your career than by lifting the World Cup? That’s, without a shade of doubt, the grandest of farewells one will ever get. Epic comebacks have more frequently shaped the historical significance of a game; however that can’t match an instance of violent controversy. The match is remembered by football fans as the day Zidane infamously headbutted Materazzi. The question that still remains in everyone’s minds is, what made him take the provocative action? Was he not aware about the significance of the game and that penalties were on hand? Just 133 minutes before his sending off, Zidane nonchalantly Panenkaed home a penalty. Having the ability of scoring a panenka in the finals of a World Cup against a keeper who is as much of a legend as Zizou certainly speaks volumes of the talent Zidane possessed. A wonderful career ended with a long walk of shame.

4) Diego Maradona – Argentina 2-1 England (World Cup Quarter Final 1986)

Without a doubt, this match was laden with controversy that saw Maradona claim to have ‘The hand of God’. With temperatures nearing a humongous 50 degrees, the Mexican heat was having it’s effect on the English players. This match clearly showed to the world what Diego Maradona was all about – from the shameless frauds of the mannerism of the first goal, to the absolutely marvelous run for the second. The history books, however, have a clear cut picture of Maradona’s first goal, from the delicate flick towards Jorge Valdano, misread and mistimed from his fellow Argentine, falling to the feet of Steve Hodge, who then hooks it into the danger area. Three English defenders just stood there as they watched Diego react faster to the ball. Shilton made a dash for the ball, but before he could raise his hands to claw the ball away, there came the ‘Hand of God’. That was what made most of the headlines after the sunny afternoon in the Estadio Azteca. However, his second goal seems to have taken the back seat. His second goal, an otherworldly dribble, immediately follows Maradona’s naughtiness. It was a goal that shook the world. His flabbergasting run from the center of the park, quickly shifting his weight and body as he skips past player after player as though they were skipping stones. The English tried desperately to have a lunge on the Argentine and bring him down but they were just chasing shadows. He had another stone to get past and that was Peter Shilton. Shilton was always known for making himself big and blocking shots in the final third, but Maradona had the audacity of rounding Shilton up and putting the icing on the cake with a finish to one of the best World Cup goals that the world has ever witnessed.

What are your favourite forgotten goals? Do let me know in the comments section below!