Stephan El Shaarawy's goal in the 5th minute was simply stunning. He collected the ball in the midfield, dribbled at the goal and unleashed a curling shot that beat Empoli keeper, Lukasz Skorupski. El Shaarawy would add another in the 74th minute as Roma would go on to win 3 - 1.
Every Barcelona goal is beautiful. The team effort and crisp passing allowed for the La Liga leading giants to easily defeat Rayo Vallecano. Of the 5 goals scored, Lionel Messi's hat trick proved to the highlight in a lop sided match. Rayo Vallecano finished the game with 9 men as Diego Llorente and Manuel Iturra were given straight red cards in the 42nd and 67th minute, respectively. Messi's hat trick in the run of play was a tribute to Barcelona's possession dominance and his intelligence to be in the right place at the right time.
Leg 2 of the Europa League's last 32 teams happened today, and while there were some great goals and stories, Hakan Calhanoglu's goal for Bayern Leverkusen stood out during the day. His volley in the 87th minute was the nail in the coffin for Sporting Lisbon. With the 3 - 1 victory, Leverkusen advance on aggregate to the Round of 16 in Europa League.
While many turn their focus to UEFA Champions League, top clubs in the US and Central America are facing off in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. The Seattle Sounders faced Mexican side, Club América and played to a 2 - 2 draw. Clint Dempsey got the scoring started with a curling freekick in the 43rd minute. The 1 - 0 lead wouldn't last long as Club América came back with a goal of their own before the half in the 45th minute. Dempsey would score again to retake the lead, but it evaporated on a 70th minute goal from Oribe Peralta.
The announcer's call was as amazing as the volley goal. Aritz Aduriz of Athletic Club Bilbao scored a stunning volley against Olympique de Marseille in Europa League. Aduriz absolutely blasted the volley from 35 yards out. His 53rd minute goal was the game winner for Bilbao.
The second league for this match up is on February 24th as Marseille travel to Spain.
The late 19th century to the end of the apartheid era in South Africa saw the rise of townships, urban living areas, built on the periphery of towns and cities. Reserved for non-whites, these sprawling and often underdeveloped slums were contrived as separate living spaces for working class and unemployed black, colored and Indian inhabitants.
Townships were also referred to as locations or lokasie in Afrikaans. Lokasie gave way to the colloquial term kasi, a word which now encompasses the flavor and distinct style of the townships.
Did we just see the Puskás Award goal scored? It is only February, but this goal will surely be a finalist come 2017 when the awards are handed out. Faiz Subri of Penang FA knuckle balled a free kick from 35 yards out and it truly defied physics. See for yourself.
Marcelo Palau went viral yesterday amongst the soccer community with his scintillating scissor kick against Ecuadorian side, Independiente de Valle. Palau, playing for Paraguayan Primera Division side, Club Guaraní raced down the middle of the pitch to latch on to a floating ball by his teammate from the right wing. From just above the penalty box, Palau elevated and hammered home the floating cross with conviction. Club Guaraní would go on to win 2 - 1 as Marcelo Palau's goal opened the scoring in the 62nd minute.
Before many fans could even sign into their cable accounts and stream the USWNT Olympic Qualifer against Costa Rica, Alex Morgan had already put the USWNT up 1 - 0. It took 12 seconds, two passes, an immediate long ball, flick on header, two touches,and a shot to give the USWNT the start they craved for. The USWNT continued to dominate play and added two more goals soon after, however Alex Morgan's goal will be remembered for years to come. This goal was the fastest in US Soccer history. Morgan's goal was symbolic for the USWNT.
Leicester City continue to play quality, no frills football and the individual effort of Riyad Mahrez helped the squad to a controlling victory over Manchester City. The creative brilliance of the Algerian winger was on display the entire match. Mahrez has embraced the center stage as the squad remain on course to an EPL title.