Top 10 Goals from Around the World This Weekend

It was something of a golazo special in Major League Soccer this weekend, with David Villa, Didier Drogba and Lloyd Sam all finding the target with thoroughly enjoyable efforts.

Elsewhere, rampant domestic champions Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus romped to their latest victories, and in some style, too.

In England, the fight to stay in the Premier League is well and truly on, as Newcastle United earned a vital 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, while Sunderland scored a last-minute penalty to claim a point from their match with Stoke City.

For all that and more, click through to check out our favourite goals from the weekend that was. 

Didier Drogba, MONTREAL IMPACT vs. Colorado Rapids

Didier Drogba scored his second goal of the MLS season on Saturday with a lovely free-kick in Montreal Impact's 2-2 draw with Colorado Rapids at the Stade Saputo.

Just nine minutes had passed when the Chelsea legend stepped up and struck a precise set-piece over the wall and under the crossbar to give Montreal the lead.

Colorado scored twice in the final 20 minutes to claim a point, but Drogba's goal was the neutral's highlight.

[Vine]

Fares Bahlouli, MONACO (Youth) vs. Mont-de-Marsan

Fares Bahlouli could be looking forward to a few more first-team opportunities after scoring a sensational long-range goal for a Monaco academy side against Mont-de-Marsan on Saturday.

With the score locked at 1-1, the young midfielder received the ball from a clearance and carried it toward the halfway line. Before he got there, though, he took a brief glance up and hit an outrageous effort that sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net.

It proved to be the winning goal, and what a worthy winner it was.

[YouTube]

Jack Cork, SWANSEA CITY vs. Liverpool

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Swansea City produced a ruthless performance on Sunday to claim a 3-1 win over an understrength Liverpool side.

Jurgen Klopp made several changes to a Reds side that lost to Villarreal in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, with next week's second leg high on the agenda.

As it was, Klopp's experimental XI were unable to cope with Swansea, whose three goals included this peach from Jack Cork.

With the Swans already 1-0 up, Cork doubled the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when he won the ball in midfield and curled a lovely finish past Danny Ward from the edge of the box.

Christian Benteke got one back for Liverpool, but Andre Ayew made the points safe with his second of the game on 67 minutes.

David Villa, NEW YORK CITY FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

New York City FC claimed their second MLS win of the season on Saturday with an entertaining 3-2 win at home to Vancouver Whitecaps.

The highlight came 41 minutes into the match at Yankee Stadium, when two of the home side's biggest stars combined for a goal that befits their high standing in the game.

Andrea Pirlo was the creator, as his precise corner kick found David Villa, who leapt into the air to meet the ball with a stunning acrobatic volley.

It was the Spanish striker's second goal of the game, with the New Yorkers adding another in the second half to seal the win.

[YouTube]

Maxwell, PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN vs. Rennes

Rennes became the latest Ligue 1 side to suffer at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, when the already-confirmed champions strolled to a 4-0 win at the Parc des Princes.

Brazilian left-back Maxwell is expected to leave the club in the summer, but he provided the game's best goal when he followed up on nice work from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani by slipping the ball through the legs of a defender and beating the goalkeeper with a clinical finish.

Not bad for a defender.

[YouTube]

Fernando Manriquez, O'Higgins vs. UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCION

There was a stunning goal in the Chilean league on Saturday, courtesy of Universidad de Concepcion's Fernando Manriquez.

With 54 minutes played and Concepcion already 1-0 up over O'Higgins, Manriquez latched onto a loose ball just in front of the halfway line and hit a brilliant first time strike that flew over the goalkeeper from long range.

O'Higgins got one back later in the second half but were ultimately unable to recover from Manriquez's superb effort.

[YouTube]

Andros Townsend, NEWCASTLE UNITED vs. Crystal Palace

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Newcastle United claimed a valuable three points in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at St. James Park on Saturday.

The winner came via the left foot of Andros Townsend, who struck a superb free-kick that beat the wall and Wayne Hennessey in the Palace goal on its way into the far top corner after 58 minutes.

The Toon Army's latest win moves them ahead of Norwich City and Sunderland and out of the relegation zone with just two games to play.

Lloyd Sam, NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. FC Dallas

New York Red Bulls scored a free-kick with a difference in their 4-0 win over FC Dallas on Friday.

They broke the deadlock after 37 minutes, when a clever and perfectly executed set-piece routine was finished off by Lloyd Sam at the back post.

The Red Bulls added three more in the second half to seal a win that moves them up to eighth in the Eastern Conference.

[YouTube]

Robin Van Persie, FENERBAHCE vs. Gaziantepspor

It's not always been easy for Robin van Persie since his move from Manchester United to Fenerbahce in the summer, but he provided a timely reminder of his undoubted class with a lovely goal in his team's 3-0 win over Gaziantepspor on Sunday.

With Fenerbahce 1-0 up and the second half still young, Van Persie doubled the lead when he dribbled silkily around the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the empty net.

Now that's the RVP Premier League fans remember.

[Vine]

Kelechi Iheanacho, Southampton vs. MANCHESTER CITY

BEN STANSALL/Getty Images

Kelechi Iheanacho provided the solitary positive note for Manchester City in a 4-2 defeat to Southampton on Sunday.

The Nigerian teenager had already netted once at the St. Mary's stadium when he found the top corner with a brilliant finish after 78 minutes.

It proved to be just a consolation goal, but Iheanacho's talent is there for all to see.