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Chris Wright, writer for Two Books
Harry Kane continued his impressive start at Bayern Munich this weekend by scoring a hat-trick in a chaotic but eventful 8-0 win over Darmstadt, which saw all eight goals scored in the final 40 minutes of the game.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
The former Tottenham striker scored his 12th, 13th and 14th goals (and a seventh assist) in just his 13th appearance for Bayern, but only after the Bavarian giants were reduced to 10 men with less than five minutes to play. After that, two Darmstadt players were sent off in the first half, which ended without a goal being scored.
The second half saw Darmstadt surrender in stunning fashion, with Kane opening the scoring and the metaphorical scoring gates in the 51st minute. However, it was the Bayern Munich striker’s second goal of the evening that will go down as one of the best goals of his career.
After picking up the ball in his own half, Keane glanced up the field, saw that goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen had strayed from his penalty area and duly unleashed a brutal 60-yard shot that soared high above him and crept under the bar.
In doing so, Kane becomes the latest high-profile arrival to a select group of players who have found success from beyond the halfway line.
Kemar Roofe (Rangers) vs Standard Liege 2020
⚽️ Today’s goal: @roof Against Standard Liège pic.twitter.com/mwPkwyyKZf
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 10, 2022
Roofe’s giant solo goal against Standard Liège was scored from 54.6 yards, making it the longest goal ever scored in the Europa League.
Wayne Rooney (DC United) vs. Orlando City, 2019
Wayne Rooney from the former midfielder!!!! pic.twitter.com/dJ5BriAOx3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 27, 2019
Rooney set the plan for his English successor Kane with a powerful 60-yard strike for D.C. United that soared over the head of Orlando goalkeeper Brian Rowe, with the veteran striker’s shot long enough to kiss the goal line on the way. in.
Wayne Rooney (Everton) vs West Ham, 2017
Surprisingly, this was not the first time Rooney had scored from his own half, as he had previously scored with a similar Herculean hoof during his return season to his boyhood club Everton. The shot was measured from 59 yards, the furthest distance recorded in the Premier League since April 2015.
Charlie Adam (Stoke) vs Chelsea 2015
Absolute audacity to try this 😅#Goal_Today s @Charlie26 Adam pic.twitter.com/6DBTPL5fpP
— English Premier League (@premierleague) March 27, 2022
That phenomenal goal was scored in April 2015 by Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam, who scored one of the most audacious goals the Premier League has seen even in what proved to be a 2-1 defeat for the Potters at Stamford Bridge.
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) vs. West Ham, 2014
West Ham were once again exposed to a missile from Rooney when the Manchester United striker fired a shot high over the crossbar in a 2-0 win. Coincidentally, David Beckham was in the crowd at Upton Park to watch Rooney emulate the famous halfway line goal he scored for United in 1996 (more on that soon).
Orlando Engelaar (Melbourne Heart) vs. Central Coast Mariners, 2014
🤯 Orlando Engelaar from inside his own half! Who remembers this classic match against Central Coast Mariners?#Cummin City | 🎟 pic.twitter.com/4YEVG6GJvJ
– Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) March 18, 2021
Stunningly he scored on the same day as Rooney’s goal, with former Netherlands international Engelaar making a valiant attempt to beat the Englishman on the ‘long distance goal of the weekend’ with an absolute cannon against the Mariners. You can decide for yourself if that’s better than Rooney’s repeated goal against West Ham.
Alex Colon (Deportivo Quito) vs Deportivo Cuenca 2013
Colon scored a stunning goal from under the crossbar during his team’s 5-1 victory over Deportivo Cuenca in the Ecuadorian Primera Division.
Maicon (Porto B) vs UD Oliverense, 2013
Porto B’s Brazilian centre-back Maicon Pereira Roque (known as the old ‘Maicon’ to his friends) curled a stunning free-kick over the Oliverense goalkeeper without bouncing from his own half during a Portuguese second division match last year.
It’s safe to say that no one expected Maicon to pull off such a heinous attempt, especially the photographer.
Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan) vs. Schalke 2011
🔙 | April 5, 2011
My cock #Stankovic From the midline! 🚀🎯#Inter forever #On this day #TBT ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/ghRBK2Bse1
– Inter (@Inter_en) April 5, 2018
A rare example of a direct shot from the middle of the pitch, Stankovic contorted his body and curled Manuel Neuer’s unorthodox header over the Schalke goalkeeper with artificial amounts of enthusiasm.
Rivaldo (Barcelona) vs. Atletico Madrid 1998
Rivaldo, in his usual nonchalant manner, looked up, weighed his options and proceeded to cross from the halfway line during the height of his Barcelona career.
Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) vs Newcastle, 2006
Audacity level: @Xabi Alonso
🗓 #On this day In 2006… pic.twitter.com/ns5aZZxKGb
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 20, 2016
Alonso made a habit of scoring from 50-plus yards during his days at Liverpool, but the Spanish midfielder’s stunning effort against Newcastle stands above all others.
Moore Diouf (Supersport United) vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 2013
Having thwarted an attack on the edge of his own area, Diouf cleared away his interfering teammates and proceeded to unleash an absolute monster shot from over 70 yards.
Naim (Real Zaragoza) vs. Arsenal 1995
¡Howie Compley, 53 years old @maanayim!
🎊🎉🎉🎉Exjugador del @FCBarcelona_es, @Spurs_ES s @Real Zaragoza.
She won the UEFA Cup with Real Zaragoza in 1995 in the Paris final against Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/UnhlgUVKjA
— UEFA.com in Spanish (@UEFAcom_es) November 5, 2019
Having left Tottenham to join Zaragoza two years ago, Naeem appeared to ruin Arsenal’s chances of winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995 when he beat goalkeeper David Seaman in the final seconds of extra time to win the trophy. Game 2-1.
Of course, to this day, Spurs fans still urge Seaman to let such a speculative effort slip through his grasp, chanting “Naim, from the halfway line” in his direction at every available turn.
David Beckham (Manchester United) vs Wimbledon, 1996
Take a bow David Beckham 👏#Goal_Today | @Manchester United pic.twitter.com/LqcSIK7O41
— English Premier League (@premierleague) December 8, 2021
Still used as a reference point for every smash hit scored to this day, Beckham’s bow strike (famously achieved despite wearing someone else’s shoes) against Wimbledon on the first day of the 1996–97 season has become an archetype of the genre.
Ryūjiro Ueda (Fagiano Okayama) vs. Yokohama FC, 2011
How about that for a long term goal❓
Ryūjiro Ueda scored with a header from his own half #On this day In 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣… pic.twitter.com/VQkKxCKleg
– Football on this day (@footieonthisday) October 30, 2018
Special mention must go to Japanese defender Ueda, who as far as we can tell still holds the world record for the longest headed goal ever scored after bending his steel neck to score a goal from 58.6 meters against Yokohama FC (beating Yokohama FC ). The record was set by John Samuelsen from Tromsø weeks ago.)
