HIGUITA, CHILAVERT…. ALISSON: GOALS BY GOALKEEPERS
Here are some of the most spectacular, and important, goals scored by goalkeepers
A er isson Bec er ea ed n a minu e w nner r verpoo ag ns es rom on un ay is manager Jur en Klo said: "It's the best oal I've ever seen scored b a oalkee er!" Becker has some com etition for that prize. Plenty of goalkeepers have scored with a spectacular punt. Some, like Brazilian Rogerio Ceni, who scored more than 130 goals in his career, or Jose Luis Chilavert and Rene Higuita, were dead-ball specialists. For most keepers the chance only comes when the situation is dire and desperate coaches wave their goalies forward, as the Liverpool bench did on Sunday. Alisson's deft header kept alive their hopes for a Champions League berth.
ALBERTO BRIGNOLI
(for Benevento v AC Milan, Serie A—Dec 3, 2017) Brignoli became another on-loan hero when he hurled himself at a 95th minute free-kick. The ball hit the back of his head and rocketed into the goal to give Benevento a first-ever Serie A point.
CHILAVERT (for Paraguay against Argentina, World Cup qualifying—Sept 1, 1996)
All eight of Chilavert's international goals came in competitive games, two of them were vs Argentina. The rasping low drive with which earned Paraguay a draw in Buenos Aires helped propel them to a 2nd-place finish in the South American World Cup qualifying and a first qualification in
12 years.
OSCARINE MASULUKE
(for Baroka v Orlando Pirates, South African Premier League—November 30, 2016) Masuluke's spectacular overhead kick from the corner of the penalty area saved a point for struggling Baroka, but they were relegated. It was a strike of such unlikely beauty that it finished second in FIFA's goal of the year vote, behind an Olivier Giroud scorpion-kick.
JIMMY GLASS
(for Carlisle v Plymouth, English Div III— May 8, 1999)
Carlisle needed to win to stay in the League. Coach Nigel Pearson waved the on-loan goalkeeper forward for a last-minute corner-kick. Glass scored with a volley from inside the box. It was the last of the three games he played for Carlisle.
HIGUITA
(for Atletico Nacional v River Plate, Copa Libertadores semi-final—August 9, 1995)
Less than a month before his famous scorpion clearance for Colombia against England, Higuita helped propel his club towards the Copa Libertadores final. He scored off a free-kick that flew over the wall, hit the underside of the bar and went in. He scored again in the second leg tie-breaker his team won 8-7.