Last week, as a flurry of goals fell on BMO Field, a South African goalkeeper was lifting the crowd on the other side of the world, just before going around the world himself: in the 95th minute of a game in which Baroka F.C. was trailing by a goal to Orlando Pirates, Oscarine Masuluke does something he probably thought he only could do in his dreams. The goalkeeper executes a lobbed bicycle kick to perfection and offers his team a point.
This goal would be among the career top 5 of any striker, but many other goalkeepers have let their offensive flair loose through the ages on the football planet. Impact Media invites you to leave everything behind and to trust destiny in this edition of foot culture, special goal scoring goalkeepers.
Rogério Ceni
São Paulo FC v. Corinthians
Campeonato Paulista, 2011
Let’s give credit where credit is due. Ceni, a FIFA World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002 as a third ‘keeper, has scored 131 goals in the span of a 23-year career. Even though a majority of these goals came from the penalty spot, the former São Paulo net minder turned manager scored many through free kicks, like his 100th career finish.
José Luis Chilavert
Vélez Sarsfield v. Ferro Carril Oeste
Apertura, Primera División, 1999
The golden boot of ‘keepers in international games, Chilavert achieved a hat trick in an Argentinian league game back in 1999. Sure, his three goals came on penalties, but he so coolly dispatched all of them that we can assume he was a striker in a past life.
Gorka Iraizoz
Athletic Bilbao v. Málaga CF
La Liga, 2014
At the very start of the 2014-2015 Liga season, Athletic Bilbao visits Andalusia. Trailing 0-1 after the locals saw two of their players sent off, the Basques go all in in the 94th minute… and their bet lands! Iraizoz climbs over everyone and sends a header into the Málaga goal. But as the keeper hugs his teammates and enjoys the moment, referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz disallows the goal for a foul in the box prior to the header. We are still looking for that foul.
Quillan Roberts
Canada U17 v. England U17
FIFA U17 World Cup, Mexico, 2011
We’re in the 87th minute at Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca. The English are up 2-1 and can already see themselves in the knockout round. The Canadian ‘keeper, Quillan Roberts, well aware of the seconds trickling down, takes possession of the ball in his own box before haranguing his teammates and pushing them forward. The Three Lions decide against pressing him, preferring to fall back in their own territory to win the second ball and allowing the young Maple Leaf #18 to slowly run into midfield. From there, Roberts sends it long, aiming for the top of the English box. The ball touches the ground, bounces and goes over Jordan Pickford’s head. This is the story of how a young Canadian became the first goalkeeper to score in a FIFA final tournament.
Tim Howard
Everton v. Bolton
Premier League, 2012
Good old Tim Howard, now with Colorado Rapids, scored his only career goal in a lucky kind of way. With the wind coming from behind, his clearance – from his own box – travels with speed to surprise Ádám Bogdán at the other end of the pitch.
Paul Robinson
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford
Premier League, 2007
Tottenham is used to being on the wrong side of these types of unusual things, but this time, Spurs enjoy good fortune. Robinson clears his zone with a high, powerful boot, which travels, travels… and bounces over Ben Foster’s head. 2-0 Tottenham, and the points are in the bag.
Martin Hansen
ADO Den Haag v. PSV Eindhoven
Eredivisie, 2015
A backheel. While falling. Without looking. Against the champions. In the last minute. Et cetera, so on and so forth.
Oliver Kahn
Bayern Munich v. Hansa Rostock
Bundesliga, 2001
The Volkahno was unique. Aggressive, imposing, fiery, Oliver Kahn made quite a reputation for himself, mostly during his 14-year stay with Bayern Munich. In this game in 2001, as the Bavarians are trailing 2-3, the German international goes up to the opposing box, looking for an equalizer. The ball comes his way but a little too low. When in doubt, stick to what you know: Kahn uses his fists to punch the ball in the goal. He gets a yellow card for his troubles, his second of the game. After the final whistle, Mr. Oliver had this to say: “I thought goalkeepers could use their hands in the box.”
Ali Ahamada
Toulouse FC v. Stade Rennais
Ligue 1, 2012
Wow, the diving header! Even if the technique is not exactly up to par, reminding us more of a blue whale than of Hassoun Camara, this equalizer will stay in Ligue 1 folklore for a long time.
René Higuita
Atlético Nacional v. River Plate
Copa Libertadores, 1995
El Loco, the colourful Colombian with the mop behind the scorpion save, found the back of the net 41 times, including in the Copa Libertadores semifinals against River Plate in 1995. Atlético Nacional, who would eventually lose in the final against Grêmio, is that club who was due to host Chapecoense in the Copa Sudamericana final this year.
Hans-Jörg Butt
Bayer Leverkusen v. Schalke 04
Bundesliga, 2004
Oh Hans-Jörg, how you’ve become the Butt of the joke. After burying a penalty, the Bayer Leverkusen gloves-bearer jogs all the way back to his goal, accepting his teammates’ congratulations and the crowd’s acclaim. Schalke players ain’t got time for that and, straight at the restart, hoof the ball between the Leverkusen posts. Even if this goal makes it 3-2 and brings back Schalke in the game, the Bayer defence looks at the funny side of things.
Michelle Betos
Portland Thorns v. FC Kansas City
NWSL, 2015
In injury time, Portland Thorns need a goal to avoid defeat at home. ‘Keeper Betos joins the attack on a corner and takes advantage of lax, if not inexistent, marking to send a diving header just across the goal line. Providence Park goes nuts and Portland is still weird.
Sinan Bolat
Standard Liège v. AZ Alkmaar
Champions League, 2009
The last game of the UEFA Champions League group stage between Standard Liège and AZ Alkmaar was not only putting the spotlight on the Low Countries rivalry, it would allow the Belgians to continue their European adventure if they got at least a point. A few seconds away from stoppage time, the Dutch champions are up by one, but keeper Bolat sends his last-gasp header in the upper 90. Europe still calls for Standard.
