- What a couple of days it’s been for oddly scored goals.
Paul Scholes entered into the fluke goal history books Tuesday night as Manchester United beat AC Milan in the Champions League round of 16 with a 3-2 away win that made a quarter final birth just a bit more attainable. Scholes has scored some incredible goals for Manchester United’s first team over his sixteen year career and will surely retire in the next few years as one of the top English midfielders to ever grace the Premier League. Who can forget that right footed volley at Villa Park in the 2006-2007 season?
I’d love the headline of this post to read “Scholes Unashamedly Smashes United Into Quarters“, but it’s safe to say the Ginger Prince knew nowt of the goal he luckily scored Tuesday night at the San Siro. Scholes’ performance on Tuesday night won’t be remembered for his accurate passing abilities, long range shots, or even his bad tackling. His 36th minute flub was laughable at best and only pinged off his left leg because he whiffed so badly with his more powerful right.
For those that missed Manchester United’s opener, the team who have appeared in two consecutive finals were easily outplayed in almost every position on the pitch until Darren Fletcher took into his own hands what Nani couldn’t do and served United attackers with their first relevant cross of the night. The low cross found Scholes who was perfectly positioned in front of goal and attempted a sort of half volley with his right foot. Totally missing in his attempt, the ball then bounced off his left leg that was motionless and upright supporting his flailing right.
Scholes then witnessed the ball trickling into the Milan goal past an outstretching Dida in what is sure to have been the luckiest goal he’ll ever score. The Scholes hokey pokey sure to not be forgotten anytime soon.
What sticks out with this incredible piece of luck for United is that they were largely undeserved of the 1-1 halftime scoreline. Milan were giving fits to United’s make shift back line as the usually solid Johnny Evans looked rattled playing in such a massive game.
The question that ultimately surfaces is what becomes of this goal in the grand scheme of United’s season and history if somehow they continue on and win the Champions League? United fans will look back to the 36th minute of an epic European night and that silly little goal scored against the run of play that opened up the scoring and allowed Wayne Rooney to score a brace en route to a famous victory.
Since football fans are still only a few months removed from the notorious beach ball incident at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, which like that of the Scholes blast is sure to go down in history, I’d like to know what are some other incredibly lucky goals that you’ve seen scored in recent years? Surely there’s loads of mistaken kicks, flicks, whiffs, scuffs and misses that have luckily found the back of the net.
This could be fun, feel free to leave a comment below.
haha goals are goals buddy…i don’t care if he scored it in a wheelchair or via beachball…anything counts
Thanks for the feedback,
Sure anything counts, I get that. The point of the post was more a humorous look at what could quite possibly be a very important goal in the grand scheme of United’s Champions league run than a dig at Scholes.
It’s all a bit of fun in the end, but a goal that I won’t soon forget.
I’m tired by all the United hate on this site, think it’s time to remove this site from my RSS reader.
So… Scholes had a bit of luck on his goal. What about the opening goal by Ronaldinho, he had no luck there? Shit this is football, and in the end, everything will balance out throughout the tournament and the best team will come out Champion.
Just face it, you’re a hater who can’t believe United is on the way to another double, even without Ronaldo.
The Ronaldinho goal was luck without doubt but the Scholes goal was just plain freaky! I’ve never seen anything like it!
Phil,
Thanks for the feedback. FYI, I’m a MASSIVE United supporter.
I’m not a Man Utd fan but I think Scholes has been the best English midfielder for over a decade, in fact I would put him as the second best English midfielder i’ve ever seen, and I’m 34. His fantastic touch, passing ability and vision has stayed with him, Forget Beckham, Paul Scholes has been the best English midfielder for the last decade. His England career was too short in my opinion, he would still be first pick in my team today.(well, maybe second after Rooney)
In case anyone was wondering, Gazza is the best English midfielder I have ever seen. Anyone who watched Gazza in the 1990 world cup knew they were watching one of the best players to have ever walked this earth. If he had been luckier with injuries and wasn’t so much of a pisshead he could have been up there with Pele and Maradona.
Thanks for the feedback three lions,
I’m sure you know Paul Gascoigne better than me. The majority of my experiences with him have been from reading articles and watching videos, YouTube clips, etc., but your comment raises a whole other debate of should the FA step in and help out once great footballers who can’t help themselves. ??
It’s sad to see the state of such a once great footballer. Here’s hoping someone steps in a gives him a little help soon.
A comical goal for sure.
Not quite the same, but the penalty shoot-out from the Man United-Chelsea Champions League Final stands out for me. First you had Ronaldo’s stupid stutter-step before his shot leading to his miss. Then, of course, Terry’s sad fall into that crappy rain-soaked pitch.
As a United supporter, nothing ever annoyed me more than Ronaldo’s stutter step on a penalty. I’ve seen other players adopt that method with mixed results.
Simply don’t understand it, but good observations.
scholsey has got the finnest volley shots in the world . first i was a roanldo fan n now after watching scholes style of play i no more care about having news abt ronnie.when there is the thirst for goal in the important matches , he scores .scholes is the best midfielder in the world n i would luv to see his football for years to cum.
Uh, wasnt the point of this commenting supposed to be on funny goals?? This goal was VERY lucky. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw3JigL0xIo
And as for the crying United fans, the guy who runs this website doesnt hate on Manchester United. We hate on their luckyness in life. In the final, Terry missed the penalty that should have won Chelsea the UEFA CL. Then, this match should have ended two goals to two. But, Scholes is still a great and undisciplined mid-field.