Top 10 Goals from World Football in September
It has been yet another sensational month of wonder goals throughout the world of football.
If you have missed any of them, not to worry, as we have rounded up the very best strikes of the past four weeks.
Check out these 10 eye-catching efforts from Planet Football during September.
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Manchester City, 13 September)
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Arsenal’s new signing from FC Barcelona, Alexis Sanchez, has made quite a start to life in north London, with the exciting Chile international having already hit the back of the net on four occasions in all competitions.
Not only that, two of the forward’s strikes have been so good they are both contenders for Goal of the Month for September, starting with this sublime effort against Premier League champions Manchester City at the Emirates.
With the top-flight match on a real knife edge at 1-1, Alexis showed why the Gunners were prepared to fork out a whopping £35 million to bring the player from Camp Nou earlier this summer by executing a world-class cushioned volley that flew past a helpless Joe Hart, sending the home fans into a state of delirium.
Javier Hernandez (Deportivo La Coruna vs. Real Madrid, 20 September)
2 of 10It is fair to say that Javier Hernandez was known more for his predatory instincts in and around the six-yard box than his long-range shooting abilities during his time at Manchester United.
However, the Mexico international managed to open his goalscoring account for new club Real Madrid in unfamiliar style earlier this month, with the striker coming off the bench to hit an absolute screamer in Los Blancos’ record-breaking 8-2 win at Deportivo La Coruna.
With the points already in the bag and the visitors leading 6-2, Chicharito collected possession of the ball on the left-hand corner of the penalty area before thumping an unstoppable effort into the top corner for the first of his two wonder goals that day in Galicia.
Ricardo Van Rhijn (Feyenoord vs. Ajax, 21 September)
3 of 10Eredivisie matches involving archrivals Feyenoord and Ajax are usually decided by a moment of individual brilliance, and that was the case once again when the two Dutch giants clashed at De Kuip in September.
On this occasion it was the champions’ young Netherlands international right-back Ricardo van Rhijn who produced the match-winning strike just five minutes into the first Klassieker of the season.
And what a goal it was too from the 23-year-old, with Van Rhijn managing to perform a more-than-passable impression of FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo’s distinctive free-kick technique from all of 35 yards out.
Andre Ayew (Reims vs. Marseille, 23 September)
4 of 10New Marseille head coach Marcelo Bielsa has seemingly added some much-needed invention and style to the Ligue 1 giants’ play since taking over this summer.
And that freedom of expression the Argentine trainer has brought about was best illustrated by Andre Ayew’s second goal in the visitors’ comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of Reims earlier this month—a result that sent Marseille to the top of the table in France.
And while the Ghanaian forward’s finish may look simple on first glance, look again and you will realise that it is anything but, as Ayew actually completed his brace with a cheeky rabona to put his side 4-0 up just past the hour-mark.
Nathaniel Clyne (Arsenal vs. Southampton, 23 September)
5 of 10Young Southampton right-back Nathaniel Clyne has started the new campaign in unexpectedly fine goalscoring form, netting twice already after only managing one strike during the whole of last season.
And while the one-time England under-21 international’s first goal at Anfield back in August was impressive, it pales in comparison compared to his long-range effort in the Saints’ 2-1 win against Arsenal in the League Cup third round last month.
Collecting the ball fully 30 yards out, the 23-year-old smashed an absolute piledriver past new Gunners reserve 'keeper David Ospina and into the roof of the net.
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Southampton, 23 September)
6 of 10I know we have already had one effort from Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez in September, but I am afraid the Gunners’ big-money capture from Barcelona just cannot stop scoring wonder goals, which is why his name is appearing for a second time.
However, it is up to you to decide which of the two strikes is the best, with this Alexis free-kick coming in a League Cup third-round clash with Southampton at the Emirates earlier this month.
Bearing in mind the sheer size of Saints No. 1 Fraser Forster, it requires a shot of significant precision to beat the giant England international goalkeeper, which is exactly what the 25-year-old Chilean produced with this unsaveable 20-yard free-kick.
Luka Modric (Villarreal vs. Real Madrid, 27 September)
7 of 10I am not sure diminutive Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric knows how to score easy goals judging by the Croatian’s back catalogue of fine strikes down the years. That was the case once again at El Madrigal earlier this month.
With Villarreal holding Madrid 0-0 in a crucial Liga fixture for Los Blancos, the 29-year-old received the ball from team-mate Toni Kroos in a tight spot on the edge of the area, with few options available as the home team’s defence closed in fast.
However, the quick-thinking Modric wasted little time in unleashing a powerful right-footed shot with virtually no back lift at all that left Sergio Asenjo in the Yellow Submarine’s goal rooted to the spot as the visitors took the spoils with a 2-0 win.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona vs. Granada, 27 September)
8 of 10What a way to score your 400th career goal. Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi achieved that feat in a comfortable 6-0 league win over Granada at Camp Nou.
Of course, the pint-sized Argentine is capable of netting just about any strike he wants—as we have seen on many occasions during the past decade—although the vast majority usually revolve around the great man dancing his way through an opposition back line.
But not this time, though, with the 27-year-old using his head to convert the simplest of chances after some delightful approach play involving veteran midfielder Xavi and marauding right-back Dani Alves.
Gorgeous. Just gorgeous to watch.
Mattia Destro (AS Roma vs. Hellas Verona, 27 September)
9 of 10There cannot have been too many better strikes in September than Mattia Destro’s late effort to wrap up Roma’s 2-0 win over Hellas Verona at the Stadio Olimpico at the end of the month.
When the coveted Italy international collected possession just beyond the centre-circle with only four minutes of the Serie A contest remaining, there appeared to be little danger to the visitors’ back four.
However, in the blink of an eye, the 23-year-old striker unleashed a dipping 40-yard right-footed half-volley that caught Pierluigi Gollini in the Gialloblu goal completely off guard. The ball sailed over the 'keeper’s head and into the back the net.
Lucas Piazon (Hamburg vs. Frankfurt, 28 September)
10 of 10Frankfurt pulled off something of a coup by landing Chelsea starlet Lucas Piazon on a season-long loan deal earlier this summer, and that move is now looking even more audacious after the Brazilian’s sensational late winner at Hamburg in the Bundesliga.
Piazon may have only played a handful of games since joining the west London club two years ago, but if he continues to score goals like this one, then it surely won’t be too long before the player is recalled to Stamford Bridge.
And what is more, the 20-year-old’s 30-yard shot to give his team a dramatic 2-1 victory was, dare I say it, reminiscent of how Blues legend Didier Drogba strikes free-kicks in order to impart some devilish curl and dip on the ball.
