Sports
The best volley goal ever after John McGinn’s wonder goal
Unless you have deliberately avoided social media over the weekend, you cannot have failed to see John McGinn’s goal for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday.
The Scottish midfielder drilled home a sublime volley, left-footed, from the edge of the penalty area off the underside of the crossbar past the despairing dive of Cameron Dawson.
And it got us thinking – what are the best volleys we have seen live, in the flesh?
Paul Scholes’s rocket against Aston Villa and Wayne Rooney’s howitzer at Newcastle are two that spring to mind in the Premier League era – but we have delved into our memories to find a couple of more obscure ones.
Here’s our selection…
James Whaling – John McGinn (ASTON VILLA vs Sheffield Wednesday)
I was lucky enough to be at Villa Park on Saturday to watch what is unquestionably the best goal I have seen live.
I was in the away end in a supporting capacity rather than a working one, and the reaction of the Sheffield Wednesday fans around me told you all you need to know about how good this goal was.
Having taken the lead only four minutes earlier, it was a strike which would ordinarily knock the stuffing out of travelling fans, but the sold-out away end instead looked at each other in a daze of bewilderment.
“Fair play,” was the overriding message.
As a Wednesday fan, I’m not happy with either attempt at a clearing header, but once the ball goes out to McGinn, I’m thinking: “Go on, hit it. Have a go.”
Ninety-nine times out of 100 that ball flies into the Holte End, but it was as sweet a strike as you could wish to see. The fact it cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and into the roof of the net made it all the more pleasing on the eye.
I think what separates this goal from other volleys I have witnessed, I’m thinking back to a couple of Chris Brunt efforts down the years, is the swazz, as the kids say.
The ball started so far outside Cameron Dawson’s left post, it had no right to curl back in to that degree and end up in the back, or roof, of the net.
Thankfully, Wednesday re-took the lead and hung on for the three points – making the goal even better from my point of view!
Matt Lawless – Paolo Di Canio (WEST HAM vs Wimbledon)
Take a bow, John McGinn. Take a bow. His volley was so, so good I will show it to my 10-year-old son on loop. If ever there is a lesson to be learned about mastering technique, that’s it right there.
But the finest volley I have seen in the flesh? There’s only one winner: Paolo Di Canio. You know the one.
Trevor Sinclair flights it diagonally across the field before West Ham ’s maverick Italian connects with a chop to direct it past Wimbledon’s Neil Sullivan. Poetry in motion.
Jake Polden – Zoltan Gera (FULHAM vs Manchester United)
It’s not very often you beat Manchester United – not back in 2009 anyway – and it’s very rare you do so after scoring a goal as stylish as the one Zoltan Gera netted in Fulham’s 2-0 win at Craven Cottage some nine years ago.
Fulham were helped on the day by Paul Scholes being sent off early into the match after handling the ball on the line, and Danny Murphy netted the subsequent penalty.
But the Champions League winners from the year before were still very much in the fixture before Gera chested the ball down, charged through the middle of the park and played it out wide to Andy Johnson.
Continuing his run, the Hungarian entered the box where he received a bobbling return ball, and with his back to goal flicked it into the air before performing a spinning round-the-house kick to smash it past Edwin van der Sar.
Ibrahim Mustapha – Aaron Ramsey (ARSENAL vs CSKA Moscow)
Arsenal’s run to the Europa League semi-final in 2018 ultimately ended in disappointment as they came unstuck against eventual winners Atletico Madrid.
However, on their route to the last four they faced CSKA Moscow in the quarter final. A 6-3 aggregate win saw the Gunners progress thanks mainly to a comprehensive 4-1 home win in the first leg.
The highlight of the game was Aaron Ramsey’s sensational goal to put them 3-1 up after just 25 minutes.
Mesut Ozil spotted his teammate making a late run, beating the Russians’ half-hearted offside trap by scooping a perfectly weighted ball into the penalty area.
The unmarked Welshman leaped high into the air and ingenuously flicked his right boot behind himself to direct the over the head of the despairing Akinfeev.
Mark Jones – Emre Can (Watford vs LIVERPOOL)
We all know that any true volley can’t be allowed to hit the ground even once before the ball is struck. If anyone tries to tell you anything else they are an outright liar, let’s be honest.
That’s why McGinn’s was so good after all, and so in that spirit I’ve had to rule out a few Steven Gerrard strikes as he loved to let the let the ball bounce up before he smashed it in. Robbie Fowler in the League Cup final of 2001 did similar, but that’s just not allowed.
Dietmar Hamann’s 2003/04 goal of the season against Portsmouth was a strong contender in the true volleys category, but for the sheer “what the hell has he just done there” factor it’s going to be Emre Can at Vicarage Road in May 2017.
The whole ground took an audible intake of breath when it went in, and while the Liverpool supporters’ celebrations were tinged with a kind of wide-eyed wonder, Watford’s fans could do nothing but stand and applaud.
Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, cementing his status as one of the world’s top players.
Osimhen surpassed competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah for the prestigious award.
The Super Eagles forward concluded a remarkable year in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for Africa’s top individual prize, last won by legendary Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.
During the event, Osimhen expressed gratitude, acknowledging the impact of Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, and the support from fans and fellow players.
“It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who has seen me through life’s journey, in achieving my dreams and goals. I appreciate Nigerians and Africa for their unwavering support and encouragement,” he said.
Osimhen recognised the influence of Emmanuel Adebayo, Solomon Kalu, and other African legends, expressing gratitude to his role model, Didier Drogba.
The award reflects Osimhen’s outstanding performances with Napoli, where he played a pivotal role in their Serie A title run, scoring 26 league goals and becoming the first African to win the top scorer award, breaking George Weah’s record in the Italian top-flight.”
Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine football icon, clinched the coveted 2023 Ballon d’Or, setting a new record for the 2022 World Cup champion.
In a glamorous event held in Paris, Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, received the prestigious award on Monday night. This achievement is widely seen as a well-deserved recognition for his pivotal role in guiding the Abiscelete to World Cup victory in the previous year.
Aged 36, Messi succeeded Karim Benzema as the recipient of this award, which acknowledges his exceptional performances during the last season when he inspired Argentina to triumph at the World Cup.
His remarkable displays in Qatar, where he led his nation to a historic victory, enabled him to surpass strong competition, notably from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Haaland secured the second spot in the final voting, with Mbappe finishing third and Kevin De Bruyne taking fourth place.
Messi, a former Barcelona superstar, left an indelible mark at the World Cup, scoring seven crucial goals. His exceptional performance led to him being named the tournament’s best player, especially after Argentina’s victory over France in the final.
While Messi’s World Cup heroics were undeniable, his final season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was relatively lackluster. Subsequently, he made a move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
His former PSG teammate, Mbappe, made a strong case for the Ballon d’Or with his outstanding World Cup performance, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a memorable hat-trick in the final for France.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland had a remarkable season, scoring an incredible 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City. This stellar performance played a pivotal role in helping Pep Guardiola’s team secure a historic treble in the English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Both Haaland and De Bruyne were nominated for the Ballon d’Or from their exceptional contributions to the success of Manchester City.
Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba’s ‘B’ sample has confirmed the presence of testosterone, a source close to the case told AFP on Friday.
The 30-year-old former Manchester United player, a World Cup winner in 2018, faces a ban of up to four years.
The original test by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado) showed the presence of testosterone metabolites.
On Friday, Pogba learned that the analysis of his B sample, carried out on the previous day, had produced the same result.
The player’s entourage declined to comment.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Pogba is liable to a four-year suspension, which could be halved if he proves that he was not at fault.
The ban could even be limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not related to his level of performance”.
Pogba’s representatives said last month that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.
Testosterone promotes muscle development.
Contacted by AFP, Nado was unable to confirm this information “due to a decision by the Italian privacy authority”.
Pogba has seven days to submit his defence to Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal, which will investigate his case and request a sanction, a process that could take several weeks.
In addition to the proceedings of the Italian sports justice system, a judicial investigation will be opened by the Turin public prosecutor’s office, as doping is a criminal offence in Italy.
Since the announcement of his positive test, Pogba has been unable to train with Juventus, the club to which he returned in July 2022 after six seasons with United.
The announcement came shortly before Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri’s press conference on the eve of the Turin derby against Torino, at which he simply said he was “sorry for Paul”.
Contacted by AFP, the club, which has also suspended payment of his estimated annual salary of 8 million euros (8.4 million dollars), did not respond.
Pogba started the season attempting to bounce back from string of injuries last season and from summer surgery.
His sample was reportedly taken at his club’s opening match of the Serie A season, a win at Udinese on August 20, during which he was an unused substitute.
After the first sample tested positive on September 11, Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta said she was “awaiting the second sample and cannot have an opinion before the results”.
“What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule,” she added.
-
Opinion4 days agoTinubu’s Naira Miracle: Abracadabra or Economic Wizardry? | By Adeniyi Olowofela
-
Politics3 days ago
Why Oyo State cannot afford another 3 years of Makinde’s mismanagement of council funds
-
News1 week ago
FERMA House C’ttee Chair, Oseni Consoles Sen. Buhari over mum’s death
-
Politics1 week ago
APC Urges Fairness in Oyo LG Election
