And they say the Europa League is boring.
Could Kemarroff have done what he did Thursday night at Hamilton Academical? I do not think.
But regardless of the opposition or any circumstances surrounding the goal, sometimes you just have to sit back and marvel at the kind of ingenuity that doesn’t come along very often.
? The world is talking about this @roofe goal. https://t.co/uovG8t4wya pic.twitter.com/BeLs4S1L78
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) October 23, 2020
We can easily forget how good professional footballers are because they are always playing against other professional footballers, but every now and then we are reminded that special moments can happen in the blink of an eye.
Roof’s goal didn’t happen in the blink of an eye, though, and that’s one of the reasons it’s so special.
Rangers, leading 1-0 in stoppage time against the Standard League, were desperate for some respite from their opponents’ pressure, and so used Roofe in a typical lone striker role where his job was simply to harass. And the clock has to run down.
Gaining possession 35 yards from his own goal and beating the first man, the difficulty of making a meaningful drive with the ball was exacerbated by a soggy Stade Maurice Dufras pitch. Sunday league stuff, really.
54.6 – Kemar Roofe’s goal for Rangers against Standard Liege was scored from 54.6 yards, the longest ever goal scored in the UEFA Europa League. Brilliant #UEL pic.twitter.com/71qN1QUtdq
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 22, 2020
The goal of the roof at this point was simply to keep the ball as far away from the league players as possible. In most cases, this involves running into a cul-de-sac and flashing around the ball to fend off others, or hoofing it 50 yards towards the corner flag.
So the striker’s decision to fend off incoming challenges and drop past three defenders – despite what was to come – was far from normal. Facing the Belgian wall and reinforcements coming from behind, a delicate touch of both feet bought him time and space to ease the pressure on his already shooting teammates.
There was a rush of blood to Roofe’s head, knocking the ball around Nicolas Gavry in what was supposed to be the last act of his feigning tactics. Or was it? Was it broken legs, a lack of passing options or just staggering vision?
It would be foolish to suggest anything other than the latter.
Even Roof could not understand what he had done / BRUNO FAHY/Getty Images
After getting past four defenders, a skill that alone is admirable, given the parched pitch, then raised his head to see Arnaud Boudart off his line and what he did… Well, that’s why we’re discussing it again.
He actually had the guts to try a shot from his own half, but then pull it off? The Piskas Award is coming soon.
The strike itself had a wicked twist to it, a relationship with the ball that would never be hit so accurately and cleanly if attempted 100 times over – later on the pitch and everyone and everything on it. There is something ironic about the thing being so dirty.
As he was heading towards the advertising boards on the edge of the pitch with his speed on the ball, the strike threw him to the ground where he could have had a proper rest for his exploits. After watching his 54.6-yard effort – the longest goal in Europa League history – then curl its way over the keeper’s head and into the center of the goal, he naturally Jumped and appeared to his delight. moment.
Footballers often do remarkable things, but when you see teammates on the pitch with their jaws on the floor and stunned expressions on their faces, you know this special moment is unique.
Steven Gerrard said after the game that it was the best goal he had ever seen live. “It’s no different than a faucet,” Roof said.
I know whose side I’m on.
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