Amazing Goals

Goals change games. That’s pretty much football 101. That’s how the game works. But not every goal is created equal. This week in Serie A, the true value of a goal was shown to be different on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So let’s take a look at the three goals that defined the weekend and why they differed so widely. 

Benevento’s raucous point against AC Milan on Sunday, their first after 15 matches in Serie A, was as historic as it was surreal. It put an end to the worst losing start ever in Europe’s big five leagues, but it was also miraculously earned by goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli after the shot-stopper pushed forward on a 95th minute free kick.

Also, it was a glorious diving header to make life that much more hellish for the floundering seven-time European champions, Milan.

Last night, the Seattle Sounders laid waste to the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup Western Conference final, running out 3-0 winners on the night for a 5-0 aggregate victory. It was shades of Brazil’s 4-1 triumph over Italy in the 1970 FIFA World Cup Final. What I mean by that is the final goal was a thing of supreme beauty.

Nicolás Ladislao Fedor Flores, otherwise known as Miku, spent six years at Valencia, making a grand total of two appearances and scoring exactly zero goals with the La Liga side from 2004-2010. In three matches with Bengaluru FC, Miku already has three goals, including two on Thursday. For the second, he played a pass to himself before dribbling past three defenders.

Even though Bengaluru FC lost 4-3 to FC Goa, the second Miku goal was easily the highlight of the match.