10 Best Golazos from World Football This Weekend
The weekend golazo ranking has been a regular staple at B/R for years, but this most recent iteration might be the most impressive.
The standard of stunning goals was so high this week that there was no room for Eden Hazard's lovely strike against Hull, David Nugent's brilliant late consolation against Spurs, John Guidetti's neat finish for Celtic, Mikel Rico's cheeky lob for Athletic Club and Antonio Candreva's thunderbolt free-kick against Verona.
Here follows this week's impressive ranking, which features outrageous backheels, overhead kicks, scorpion kicks and "Olimpicos."
10. Jeremy Menez (Milan) vs. Cagliari
1 of 10Milan fans are so dissatisfied with the club's management and league situation that they organised a mass boycott of the San Siro on Sunday—just 11,000 occupied the 80,000-capacity venue to see the Rossoneri win 3-1 over Cagliari and move up to seventh place.
It is a shame that so many fans missed out on Jeremy Menez's 21st-minute opener, which was a delightful right-footed curling shot from the edge of the area.
9. Carlos Tevez (Juventus) vs. Genoa
2 of 10Juventus moved 17 points clear at the top of Serie A on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Genoa. The goal was yet another brilliant strike from the in-form Carlos Tevez, who navigated past several defenders before blasting an unstoppable shot over Genoa's goalkeeper.
The Argentinean remains Serie A's top scorer with 16 goals from 26 games.
8. Julio Alvarez (Numancia) vs. Las Palmas
3 of 10Julio Alvarez scored twice in Numancia's 4-2 victory over Las Palmas in the Spanish Segunda Division on Saturday, the second of which came directly from a corner kick in the 70th minute.
Everybody loves an Olimpico!
7. Nick Montgomery (Central Coast Mariners) vs. Perth Glory
4 of 10The Central Coast Mariners were heading towards a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Perth on Sunday when Nick Montgomery picked up a stray ball on the edge of the area three minutes into injury time. The English-born midfielder proceeded to blast in an absolute rocket of a shot to earn his side a point.
6. Cameron Jerome (Norwich) vs. Nottingham Forest
5 of 10Cameron Jerome is enjoying a fine season helping Norwich push for the Championship playoffs. The 28-year-old bagged his 19th goal of the season in style on Saturday's 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, when he tucked away an absolutely delightful backheel.
5. Gerard Gumbau (Barcelona B) vs. Alcorcon
6 of 10Our friends at 101 Great Goals unearthed a fantastic golazo from Barcelona B's 3-1 loss at Alcorcon on Saturday.
Trailing 2-0 after half an hour, 20-year-old midfielder Gerard Gumbau had a corner kick land at his feet. He instinctively flicked it behind himself, managing to lob the 'keeper in the process.
Take a bow, son.
4. Carlos Eduardo (Nice) vs. Lyon
7 of 10Lyon were ousted from the Ligue 1 top spot over the weekend thanks to a shock 2-1 home defeat to Nice. To rub salt into the title-chasing wound, the visitors' opening goal was a sensational overhead kick from Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo.
3. Juan Mata (Manchester Utd) vs. Liverpool
8 of 10
Most pundits seemed to believe Liverpool were destined to take three points from fierce rivals Manchester United on Sunday, but the Red Devils came away from Anfield with a surprise victory thanks to a Juan Mata brace.
The Spanish midfielder proved he is more than worthy of a regular place in Louis van Gaal's starting XI, thanks in part to his stunning second goal in the 59th minute.
"There is nothing to say about it, sometimes you just need to have a look at it and applaud," said Thierry Henry on Sky Sports. "It is just ridiculous what he did."
2. Birtalan Botond (Bekescsaba) vs. Gyirmot
9 of 10One of the most outrageous goals this weekend came from the oft-overlooked Nemzeti Bajnoksag II, also known as the Hungarian second division.
Bekescsaba and Gyirmot—who are both within two points of leading the championship—drew 2-2 on Saturday, and alliterative Bekescsaba striker Birtalan Botond managed an incredible one-footed scorpion kick from outside the area.
The jury is out on whether he actually meant to shoot, but the result was certainly stunning.
1. Anass Achahbar (Feyenoord) vs. PSV Eindhoven
10 of 10Feyenoord upset Eredivisie leaders PSV with a 2-1 win in Rotterdam on Sunday.
Both of Feyenoord's goals came from Anass Achahbar, the first of which was very special indeed. With his back to goal, the 21-year-old striker received a 30-yard through ball and managed to volley it past the helpless PSV 'keeper.
Achahbar has a long career ahead of him, but he may never score a goal as beautiful as that again.
