Clint Dempsey sat through most of Fulham's thrilling victory against Juventus, but the American star came off the bench to provide the most important goal of the day.
Dempsey scored a dream long-range chip shot goal in the 82nd minute to give Fulham a 4-1 victory and 5-4 aggregate series victory against Juventus at Craven Cottage on Thursday. The victory sent the Cottagers through to the Europa League quarterfinals.
With the overall series tied at 4-4 after Fulham rattled off three unanswered goals, Dempsey delivered the series clincher on a goal that left Fulham manager Roy Hodgson speechless and crushed a Juventus side that had played a man down since the 27th minute after a Fabio Cannavaro red card.
Here is Dempsey's goal (an updated video, much clearer look at the goal):
Wow… I’ve looked at a bunch of posts now, and I’m realizing a lot of you guys just don’t know the game that well.
I’m never this adamant about my opinion, but do you know anything about shooting technique?
He picks out his corner! Seems completely obvious to me.
Look at some goals from some world class forwards.
You don’t have to “telegraph” your shot for it to go in.
True that. I wish more american players weren’t afraid of daring to be creative. Our results oriented youth system is at fault for that IMO.
i refuse to give him much credit until he plays WELL for a FULL 90 with the nats this year, which he failed to do the entire qualifying campaign
I’m not involved with Nike in any way shape or form, but looking at the video at about the 1:13 mark you can see that Dempsey is wearing LAVENDER shoes!! Lavender shoes??? Are these the new NIKE shoes with adaptive traction:
http://www.fastcompany.com/1569234/nike-soccer-football-mercurial-superfly-vapor-ii
They were only introduced by Nike a week before! SECRET WEAPON for the USMNT or are the rest of the world going to get them too.
We need to get Holden back to where he was. I still have flash backs of Beasely from this summer and and Holden was looking good.
Dempsey!
From the Liverpool goal in May of ’07 to the final eight of Europa.
Nice.
Gracias
How about Clint Mathis and his several mazy run goals for Hanover – the one that sticks out is the one that got him basically fired, but he had a couple of those runs.
Boy I wish he stayed at the top of his game – he was like Dempsey – make something out of nothing.
Totally amazing goal and a great game. I tend to watch Europa League/Uefa Cup above the Champions League – Fulhams win is the stuff dreams are made of for those fans.
Clint scoring a ridiculous game winner to put Fulham through in the Europa, LD coming off a great loan stint for Everton, Charlie Davies resuming training, Gooch coming back to training with a shot at earning a starting spot and now J. Jones is resuming training soon…It seems a few weeks ago USMNT’s luck couldn’t get much worse with all the injuries. Things have changed.
At the next USA game we need to have Dempsey’s face on a banner and underneath: HE TAKES ACCOUNT OF EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE.
I don’t know, do you really call your own number on a low percentage shot with Zamora in scoring position? Either way, great play… dangerous crosses lead to assists, own goals, even “dream winners”
You ARE a badass if you can make people say you are a badass while you are wearing pink and purple cleats!
Danke!
http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20100316&content_id=8807136&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp
http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20100316&content_id=8807136&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp
How about CD9 scoring at Azteca in WCQ. Not something many or any USMNT player has on the CV (channeling british accent).
Other than that like the list.
I really don’t think they even care about the europa cup based on the small attendance they had at their home leg. but yes, in any other circumstance that would be a complete heartbreaker.
She’s making her point. Don’t be a jerk on this message board.
Their not there
Don’t play with our emotions like that Cleveland. Provide a link for that info, man.
It was a link on Yanks Abroad. First time I had heard him talk about the world cup. Just when I had though that ship had sailed. He said he wants to play before there season is over which is early May. He also helped Bradley’s kid get his current job. We need a big time midfielder. LD, Dempsey, Bradley and Jones. That works for me.
“You’re absolutely right. He was trying a no-look chip shot across the mouth of the goal with Zamora closing on the back post, all with advancement in a major tournament on the line.”
Don’t really see the validity of your point. He’s a top rated midfielder in one of the best leagues in the world. We can assume most of these players do that kind of stuff in training on a regular basis.
Why should he not pull something like that out in a big game when he’s got the ability?
I don’t know you, so I’m not going to judge too harshly, but I just think there’s no reason not to give Clint the benefit of the doubt. He’s done stuff like that before… just not this big and not at such a big moment. But hey… when you’re rehabbing, you’ve got some time to think about things.
That’s what I was thinking, but I could also see a top Serie A or La Liga team joining the bidding.
Assuming a decent WC, Clint’s raised his game and transfer price so high Fulham would be foolish not to take the money, and Hodgson’s no fool.
do share Cleveland…
Dave,…well said. You are right. Cantona comes to mind when watching Clint’s goal.
Not sure about your religion, but yeah Deuce is in peak form.
Clint’s play of late is on a whole other level – so ok maybe he is a minor deity, especially around Craven Cottage.
Der_Amerikanische_Kaiser,
I loved Clint’s goal. Great stuff,…but try these on for size:
1) Paul Caliguiri’s goal for USA against Tinidad to qualify for Italia 1990? Could the stakes have been higher for the young USA team and USMNT program? It was an important goal,…but also a great goal.
2) Eric Wynalda’s free kick goal v. Switzerland in World Cup USA? World Cup match,…USA down 1-0. It was an awesome strike and HUGELY important.
3) Landon Donovan’s goal v. Brazil in 2009 Confederations Cup Final [for my money,…the best team goal ever for USMNT] USA’s only appearance in a major tournament final!! The finish,…against mighty Brazil,…was clinical.
4) Clint Mathis’ goal agianst Korea in 2002 World Cup. Playing the host nation in a cauldron,…Clint took O’Brien’s ball out of the air sweetly with his right foot and pounded home with his left into the lower left corner. A massive goal in a World Cup match!
5) John Harkes for Sheffield Wednesday v. Derby County in 1990 [Peter Shilton was in goal]. It was voted Goal of the Year in England that year,…although there was not much drama.
6) Clint Mathis’ wonder goal for the Metrostars against Dallas at the Meadowlands. He dribbled the length of the field, smoked numerous defenders and finished with authority.
Different subject, did anyone see the article this week about Jones saying he is going to start training with his club again and expects to be with the US for the world cup?
Goals like this deserve to be described well with a word that truly captures the essence of the man and the nature of the strike.
Dempsey’s goal scoring exhibits great panache. This one is just another in a long line…take for example his wonder goal this year against Stoke, or his 40 million pound goal that kept Fulham in the EPL a few years backs.
For an American to exhibit panache in football, well…its just HUGE.
If he does this in the WC, which I believe he will, it won’t be just M. Bradley who will have transfer rumors swirling about.
I find this sad: some people seriously claim there are players too skilled to play on the USMNT.
If more skilled players play, then a team’s skill level goes up. If a skilled player can distribute from central midfield USMNT has more possession.
USMNT can still look for goals on counters, if that’s what you really are afraid of US losing with ‘too skilled’ players. At WC Torres should be starting in central midfield, feeding the ball to Donovan, Dempsey, and Jozy.
You’re absolutely right. He was trying a no-look chip shot across the mouth of the goal with Zamora closing on the back post, all with advancement in a major tournament on the line.
Totally planned. I am clueless. He confirmed it in an interview, too.
And if you believe that, I have a bridge I’d like you to consider buying.
Doosh: you are no Deuce.
Before Deuce scores, he takes a shot.
Bad crosses – you must be used to MLS ; )
Yeah the goal against Stoke was a prettier goal really. But this one against Juventus was more audacious and for a bigger prize
Sorry if I got a little quite up in my rant.
I meant to say that I dont see torres as the answer as to whom should be starting next to Bradley
(Bradley should be starting with out a doubt in my mind)
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Definitely you don’t know what you’re talking about.
For everyone saying “it wasn’t a shot because his head was down”… That’s HOW you keep a chip down. Pure class goal. Between Donovan
and Clint’s EPL showings this season, the Euro concept that the USA doesn’t produce good field players is DEAD.
I think you can see the keeper’s head go back….and to the right.
Def not a cross. EPL players tend not to “cross” the ball when they are standing at the end of the penalty box, about a foot to the left of the goal post. Lifting the ball, a la Ronaldinho, yes, but who
in their right mind would “cross” from there. Any soccer player knows that was a shot.
I definetly see dempsey moving to one of the big 4 after the world cup
yeah i thought the same thing.
Deuce!
I don’t know whether he was trying to shoot or cross the ball and got lucky. His head was down. So, he either really knew what he was doing, or it was an extremely lucky shot. Either way, it is great that he scored it and he now gets a chance to play in the quaterfinals.
Ives, is this the furthest an American player had gone in a European club tournament?
If you’re crossing the ball in that situation you drive it, you don’t chip it. It was a shot, all the way!
Not sure, his one against Stoke is pretty freaking good.
It reminds me of the Messi’s goal against Mexico. Which one was better? I think Clint’s was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwB3CBQjMl0
Absolutely the best goal he has ever scored, but hopefully not the best goal he will ever score.
I have to say technically it’s the best goal scored by an American. The goal he scored for Fulham to keep them up a few years ago is probably the most important in his career, but this one is the most skillful of any American I can remember.
Stunning goal.
I used to make those in high school.YEEEAAAAAA!!!
HE TAKES ACCOUNT OF EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE
needed to be said again. one of the best live comments ever.
Yeah, i think there was actually some sort of prenuptial agreement made where in the case of a divorce she would only be entitled to 1/4 of deuces nastiness.