Those with good memories will remember when David Beckham scored a goal last season against the Kansas City Wizards from the defensive half of the field. On Saturday night, the Wizards garnered a measure of revenge for that highlight-reel goal.
Wizards midfielder Claudio Lopez picked up a turnover near midfield and blasted a left-footed shot over the head of LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and into the net during KC's 1-1 tie vs. Los Angeles on Saturday. The goal should run away with MLS goal of the week honors.
Enjoy:
Goal of the year candidate? I'd say so.
The KC Offsides blog today has a comparison between the Lopez goal with KC and a very similar goal he scored with Valencia.
A beautiful goal, and obviously NOT a blooper: you can actually see Lopez noticing the goalie is too far from his goal, and hits the ball perfectly. I do think he “did draw it up like that”.
May succeed only once in ten, but still…
Of course, we do get to see such goals more often in Euopean soccer… 🙂
Eddie Lewis…Please retire
Livorno…Please take Alan Gordon
“That was a very odd game last night. LA dominated possession all night and had the majority of good opportunities. KC gets the ball at midfield and gets a goal and they had maybe 2 other decent chances. LA was playing some beautiful passing soccer last night.”
Did you watch the 2nd half? or the Lopez freekick that was then handballed by LA in the box? LA dominated 1st half, KC dominated 2nd half.
History of the long bombs between these two clubs.
Arnaud hits a screamer last year in Arrowhead right in front of Becks for 40+ yards.
Next game same season, Becks hit’s the bomb past Hartman late in a game where everyone was forward for the final corner.
Now Lopez hits a perfect driven shot from beyond the midstripe that still sails over the keepers hand but just under the crossbar. Still has enough drive to hit the back floor post squarely.
Who knows what will be next.
This one was better than Beck’s goal. Beck’s was into an empty net in the dying moments of the game when all 11 Wizards were up for a corner. This one beat a GK.
DeRo had a shot similar to this at Chicago 2 years ago, and it didn’t make GOTY.
Beckham is setting it up so at the end of the year he can blame the treatment he is receiving from the fans for his departure
@ CSD : ESPN needs you in the booth, funny and inciteful. Would have been better then listening to Rob Stone interview Lalas about Beckham for 20 minutes.
Lopez goal is classic! I would compare it to Parkhurst’s goal the other year against TFC. Giveaway of possesion at half field while on the attack and Lopez to advantage of Ricketts playing up out of his 18. Great strike. Wouldn’t call that a lucky shot at all, but then again I’m biased.
On the other hand, my Wizards suck. We were one wonderstike away from giving up another clean sheet.
Apparently Beckham hit a 100 yard ball through the eye of the plywood bull at the back of the stadium in practice on Friday in his first and only attempt. Wonder if it got caught on tape?
Posted by: milkshake of despair | July 26, 2009 at 01:01 PM
I heard Lebron James tried the same kick and missed it so Nike destroyed the tape 🙂
DC Josh – are you thinking of Patrick Ianni’s goal? Evans scored those couple of nutmeg goals earlier in the year, but has been on Gold Cup duty the last few weeks…
This is a much better goal than Beckham’s. If I remember correctly Becks scored on an open net. Lopez said this was the best goal of his career, and that’s saying a lot. I’m not sure what is hurting more: Ricketts’ back or his pride. I hope he’s OK and just a bit sore.
It was better than Beckham’s last year. The keeper came up for the corner last year. Lopez caught a very good keeper out and had to place the shot perfectly to score. It was pretty amazing.
I second CSD’s comment – that field in KC looks tiny and it really negatively affected the game. There was no space to run to or pass to, so the ball was just knocked around a lot to no real purpose. I hope they get out of there soon.
As for the Galaxy, without Buddle (in particular) the Galaxy couldn’t create space or presence in the box. KC, the home team, seemed quite content to go for the tie.
GOTY candidate for sure, that was sick. a friend of mine did a similar goal in our rec league to win the game a few weeks ago nothing quite like a half court shot!
Goal of the week for sure. But I think the cooper goal and this one might cancel each other out for GOTY and somebody else slip in.
That was unbelievably good. Can’t believe how reserved the commentators were. “Well, I don’t think he drew it up like that.”
Can we get some people with passion for football on network TV, perhaps?
Posted by: jloome | July 26, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Prior to the game the KC coach said at that he wanted to absorb pressure and counter attack. The announcers were referring to the fact that, that one shot from midfield is not a traditional counter attack strategy. I think that was a point comment.
I did stop watching the game in the second half when they went on a 15 minute discussion about Beckham and started ignoring the game going on. That has always been my problem with Beckham and the MLS. For some reason he can’t be an addition to a good league he has to be the focal point of the league.
Nice class, Hendrix…
@hendrix: classy
Apparently Beckham hit a 100 yard ball through the eye of the plywood bull at the back of the stadium in practice on Friday in his first and only attempt. Wonder if it got caught on tape?
That was a very odd game last night. LA dominated possession all night and had the majority of good opportunities. KC gets the ball at midfield and gets a goal and they had maybe 2 other decent chances. LA was playing some beautiful passing soccer last night.
Flipping from that game to the Colorado vs NY game was very strange. It was hard to believe it was the same league with the difference in field size. Also watching LA pass was a different level. Of course it might have been easier to complete passes when everyone is 1/4 the distance from you.
That was unbelievably good. Can’t believe how reserved the commentators were. “Well, I don’t think he drew it up like that.”
Can we get some people with passion for football on network TV, perhaps?
i hope Ricketts is out for the season.
he’s one of the main reasons LA has done so well, and LA doing well is a shame
Beckham should have shook HIS hand, for one-upping his long range shot against Kansas City. Ricketts almost had it too, I hope he is okay.
this was the lead in clip on the late sportscenter (well, at least the one i watched at 0400 est)
GOTY candidate for sure. This one, along with the Brad Evans? bicycle kick a few weeks ago.
And I do hope Ricketts isn’t hurt too badly, he has been a godsend to the Galaxy.
I still think Kenny Cooper’s was better. Both amazing goals, but Cooper’s was a laser, Lopez’s more of a blooper.
Was in a sports bar last night. The game was on a couple tv’s and the place went nuts when he scored. Then a lot of ooohs and aaaahs on the replays when the realized Ricketts banged into the post. Hope he’s okay.