Coral’s top 10 long-range goals on anniversary of Beckham’s half-way hit
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It is hard to believe that David Beckham’s wondergoal against Wimbledon’s Neil Sullivan from the half-way line was 19 years ago on this day.
On this day in 1996. David Beckham scored this: https://t.co/YtEZ7oZL8h
— Coral (@Coral) August 17, 2015
So, following that momentous occasion which arguably was the turning point in his career that helped propel him to stardom, with have picked out 10 other super strikes from long-range.
Charlie Adam v Chelsea
One of the goals of the 2014/15 season, although officially pipped by Jack Wilshere’s effort, Stoke City midfielder Adam stunned the Chelsea crowd with a super solo strike from over 66 yards and well before the half-way line over giant keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Xabi Alonso v Newcastle United
They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but with Basque man Alonso anything is possible. His effort against the Magpies at Anfield in 2006 caught out a scrambling Steve Harper, just months after another similar strike against Luton Town in the FA Cup. Alonso’s goal pips another former Kop idol in Luis Suarez, who smashed home against Norwich City (6/4 for relegation).
David Beckham v Kansas City Wizards
Nearly 12 years after his lob against Wimbledon, Goldenballs was at it again for LA Galaxy and this time from even further. Although he was helped this time by the fact there was no keeper in goal, as he was up for a corner.
Maynor Figueroa v Stoke City
So sweet was this hit from then-Wigan Athletic left back Figueroa, that no goalie in the world could have stopped it. He took a quick free-kick just behind the half-way line and drilled it into the top corner past Asmir Begovic.
Carli Lloyd v Japan
What a time to get a wonderstrike in the women’s World Cup final, and USA’s Lloyd managed this in similar vein to Alonso against Newcastle a crawling Ayumi Kaihori couldn’t keep it out. Even more impressive about it was that it was her hat-trick goal in just the 16th minute of the game.
Rivaldo v Atletico Madrid
Everything about this hit was to perfection; his touch, turn and then strike right into the top corner from exactly the half-way line summed up Brazil and Barcelona (3/1 Champions League favourites) legend Rivaldo.
Paul Robinson v Watford
It’s a rare occasion when a player scores from over the half-way line, but even rarer when a keeper gets one past his opposite number. A couple have been witnessed from long-range in the Premier League over the years, from the likes of Tim Howard and Begovic, but ex-Spurs stopper Robinson tips it for us against fellow England-capped goalie Ben Foster.
Jone Samuelsen v Tromso
How about this from Norway’s Samuelsen for Odd Greland in 2011? The diminutive midfielder, who once played under England manager Roy Hodgson at Viking, scored a header, yes a header, from just behind the half-way line, the furthest ever recorded after edging out Japanese player Ryujiro Ueda of Fagiono Okoyama.
Mikel San Jose v Barcelona
This is the most recent strike on this list, and former Liverpool defensive player San Jose scored a stunner against arguably the best team in the world right now as he half-volleyed over Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Spanish Sup Cup. The strike helped Athletic Bilbao on the way to a 4-0 first leg win, and they are 13/2 to claim a draw in the away fixture.
Dejan Stankovic v Schalke
Like Alonso and Beckham, Stankovic has a history of goals from afar, and the Serb centurion’s are arguably the more spectacular having volleyed brilliantly twice before from around the half-way line mark. We have picked out his Champions League strike against Schalke’s then-sweeper keeper Manuel Neuer for Inter Milan, ahead of a similar striker against Genoa.
