Not every free kick gives a reasonable chance for the kicker to score. In fact, in many free kicks the kicker is trying to link up with a teammate for a header shot on goal. In those cases, you want Jozy Altidore, Eddie Johnson, and the tall center backs to be the primary targets for the kicker to hit.
Sure, let Jozy take some free kicks, but when it comes to most free kicks, I prefer to see Jose Torres or Landon Donovan providing the service for a header.
Not a chance in &^%$ of anyone reacting in time. The only way he gets that is to preact/ if he’s positioned cheating near post, then leaves early blindly guessing near post upper corner. You put a curling bender up and over the wall, it appears out of nowhere… the keeper has no visual on the ball until it’s already halfway there. Any kind of pace- which this shot had and it’s awwwwwwwwwwwwfully hard to stop.
The most impressive thing was the body language. He knew it was going in before he took the kick. Other Americans have scored on free kicks before, but I’ve never seen one so beautifully struck and so cold bloodedly taken. That was class.
He had a look from a similar position in the first half and just nicked the wall. He took the same approach and everything. I’m guessing that helped him measure this one.
Ignore all things that have happened in the past.
Including nearly identical free-kicks by players who are still active that happened in WCQ not friendlies. Case in point: Landon Donovan vs. Honduras 2009
After one impressive action place players on pedestals that they have not yet earned.
So Yes, let’s have Jozy start taking all our free kicks!
By the way, I love that, after reading the headline, I honestly wasn’t sure which goal of his was being featured. That first goal of his looked easy, but was anything but… He looked world-class today.
The only free kick I can remember an American scoring internationally was Landon Donovan a few years back in either Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador (always get those mixed up, same colors). And it wasn’t close to being as pretty as that.
The Donovan one was against Honduras I believe, but there was also that Gomez one as well.
Herculez Gomez scored the only goal on a free kick that was crucial against Jamaica before the Hex in the qualifier. Don’t think it curled as much but believe it was from further out
After we wasted a few… then BH had a free kick from a similar spot and curled it barely wide with Howard sprawling to cover the upper right corner, I lamented to myself…. what a f’n shame that we don’t possess that threat! That teams can foul us just outside the box with little fear. Jozy squared up and I yawned…. here comes,same ol’ same ol’…. weakly into the wall or skied into the stands. BAM!!! Shame on me. Way to make me eat my word Jozy. He’s doing that to a lot of folks lately isn’t he?
Not every free kick gives a reasonable chance for the kicker to score. In fact, in many free kicks the kicker is trying to link up with a teammate for a header shot on goal. In those cases, you want Jozy Altidore, Eddie Johnson, and the tall center backs to be the primary targets for the kicker to hit.
Sure, let Jozy take some free kicks, but when it comes to most free kicks, I prefer to see Jose Torres or Landon Donovan providing the service for a header.
Here’s the free kick Jozy scored for AZ Alkmaar against Heerenveen in April. Very similar but he got more height on that one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA7dm66qrI4
When and where did he learn to do that?!?!?
It’s funny how Twellman said “when was the last time you saw Jozy take a free kick?” Well actually in the first half of the game you are commentating
Jozy’s scored on a free kick for one of the yellow teams (villareal of hull) in a non league game.. tho it was a low corner shot.
He hit one very similar to this for AZ last year. If you get a chance there are video packages of it on youtube.
actually the goalkeeper made a mistake, he didn’t reacted in time, he was terrible the whole game
Yeesh…. Some people.
He didn’t see it because he was screened by the two US players and their BIH markers on the end of the wall. That’s why they do that.
That’s a harsh critique. Check the last replay/angle on this clip. That shot was ripped. The keeper had very little time.
Let’s hope he plays better for Stoke and all the US players on that team.
Not a chance in &^%$ of anyone reacting in time. The only way he gets that is to preact/ if he’s positioned cheating near post, then leaves early blindly guessing near post upper corner. You put a curling bender up and over the wall, it appears out of nowhere… the keeper has no visual on the ball until it’s already halfway there. Any kind of pace- which this shot had and it’s awwwwwwwwwwwwfully hard to stop.
That free kick was special.
Clint Mathis 2001 Qualifier on the road against Honduras. GOLAZO
The most impressive thing was the body language. He knew it was going in before he took the kick. Other Americans have scored on free kicks before, but I’ve never seen one so beautifully struck and so cold bloodedly taken. That was class.
He had a look from a similar position in the first half and just nicked the wall. He took the same approach and everything. I’m guessing that helped him measure this one.
Very few players can generate that magnitude of topspin off a dead ball. Placement and power, yes, but not combined with a diving topspin.
I’ve never seen a keeper beat that badly on a free kick except for some Beckham ones where the keeper doesn’t even move.
I’ve seen C Ronaldo score a few just like Jozy’s.
I saw a clip of Josy scoring on a free kick that looked almost justlike this one last spring for AZ
Blog comments 101:
Ignore all things that have happened in the past.
Including nearly identical free-kicks by players who are still active that happened in WCQ not friendlies. Case in point: Landon Donovan vs. Honduras 2009
After one impressive action place players on pedestals that they have not yet earned.
So Yes, let’s have Jozy start taking all our free kicks!
You act like Altidore has never scored a free kick before. He has for AZ.
Greetings, Tool!
“After one impressive action”? What are you referencing?
Are you kidding? Donovan’s goal against Honduras was possible because the keeper was completely out of position.
Public Speaking (posting) 101: Do not use Uli Hoeness as a role model
Twellman go away. You ruin highlights too
Agreed.
By the way, I love that, after reading the headline, I honestly wasn’t sure which goal of his was being featured. That first goal of his looked easy, but was anything but… He looked world-class today.
If JAB gets called into the WCQ in Costa Rica and accepts it, does it cap-tie him or does he have to step onto the field?
He has to play to get a cap, which will cap-tie him.
If he’s called in, he will get a 90th min cameo.
Has to step on the field.
How long has it been since an American curled in a free kick like that?
I can’t remember that happening, ever.
The only free kick I can remember an American scoring internationally was Landon Donovan a few years back in either Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador (always get those mixed up, same colors). And it wasn’t close to being as pretty as that.
The Donovan one was against Honduras I believe, but there was also that Gomez one as well.
Herculez Gomez scored the only goal on a free kick that was crucial against Jamaica before the Hex in the qualifier. Don’t think it curled as much but believe it was from further out
Wynalda, ’94 World Cup, second match of the group phase versus Switzerland.
Exactly what I was thinking. I don’t know what was more impressive, the goal or the fact that the game was played in the Silverdome.
Klejstan bomb against Sweden 2009.
That poor keeper
That poor keeper is Begovich! He’s fantastic, but not fantastic enough…
He had no chance. He would have had to know where the ball was coming and even thn made a jumping well-judged save
What a fantastic game from Jozy.
Now that we know he can hack it in Europe, can he do so in MLS?
I can just picture Jurgen having an aneurysm…
great goal!
Amazing how much power he’s able to get with only a single step.
That’s because he’s lazy
i hereby nominate Jozy to take all future freekicks….
I second that. I said something to my friend like “why is Jozy taking this?”. I ate my words pretty quickly.
I had the exact same thought
After we wasted a few… then BH had a free kick from a similar spot and curled it barely wide with Howard sprawling to cover the upper right corner, I lamented to myself…. what a f’n shame that we don’t possess that threat! That teams can foul us just outside the box with little fear. Jozy squared up and I yawned…. here comes,same ol’ same ol’…. weakly into the wall or skied into the stands. BAM!!! Shame on me. Way to make me eat my word Jozy. He’s doing that to a lot of folks lately isn’t he?