Due to the copyright police, I've tended not to embed videos on the site lately.
Clint Dempsey's goal for Fulham today to push the Cottagers by Juventus today in a March Madness-worthy Europa Cup game was worth it.
Anyone that's played "FIFA 10" knows, Dempsey must have had the "chip button" held down. (Is it possible it was a cross? I tend to doubt it the way it was hit.)
Wonderful. Watching it in real time, it seemed to float in slow motion.
And not to be "that guy", but I might have called it on the Twitter.
In light of this goal being:
a) incredible
b) important
I love it even more in light of Dempsey's postgame comments: "I just thought, what the heck and tried to put it in the far post and it went in. Nine times out of 10 you won't make it but sometimes you've got to take a risk."
Amen. Americans never seem to try that kind of audacious stuff, and nothing looks better on television that a crazy long range goal like that. Are you listening Sportscenter?
(Too bad that kind of risk-taking seems to go against the Bradley the Elder team ethos.)
Let's throw out this question -- was it the most important goal scored by an American for a European club? Right now Dempsey might hold both spots, with his famous goal in 2007 that helped Fulham from being relegated.
Even if it was only the Europa League, it was a thrilling match winner that put Fulham past a European giant and its best foray ever in European play. That's pretty huge, in my book.
Note, this isn't in "European" play, ie. the Champions League. It's a goal, by an American that was important. (I'd tend to think this list is short. It's certainly at the top of best goals scored by guys wearing purple boots.)
What do you guys think?
On another note. Well done Juventus. Way to undo all the good for Italian soccer that Inter did Tuesday at Stamford Bridge. One the perennial powers of Italy absolutely owned by a middling English team? That's not good for business. (Juventus, the sum is less than the parts.)
Madness.
Clint Dempsey's goal for Fulham today to push the Cottagers by Juventus today in a March Madness-worthy Europa Cup game was worth it.
Anyone that's played "FIFA 10" knows, Dempsey must have had the "chip button" held down. (Is it possible it was a cross? I tend to doubt it the way it was hit.)
Wonderful. Watching it in real time, it seemed to float in slow motion.
And not to be "that guy", but I might have called it on the Twitter.
In light of this goal being:
a) incredible
b) important
I love it even more in light of Dempsey's postgame comments: "I just thought, what the heck and tried to put it in the far post and it went in. Nine times out of 10 you won't make it but sometimes you've got to take a risk."
Amen. Americans never seem to try that kind of audacious stuff, and nothing looks better on television that a crazy long range goal like that. Are you listening Sportscenter?
(Too bad that kind of risk-taking seems to go against the Bradley the Elder team ethos.)
Let's throw out this question -- was it the most important goal scored by an American for a European club? Right now Dempsey might hold both spots, with his famous goal in 2007 that helped Fulham from being relegated.
Even if it was only the Europa League, it was a thrilling match winner that put Fulham past a European giant and its best foray ever in European play. That's pretty huge, in my book.
Note, this isn't in "European" play, ie. the Champions League. It's a goal, by an American that was important. (I'd tend to think this list is short. It's certainly at the top of best goals scored by guys wearing purple boots.)
What do you guys think?
On another note. Well done Juventus. Way to undo all the good for Italian soccer that Inter did Tuesday at Stamford Bridge. One the perennial powers of Italy absolutely owned by a middling English team? That's not good for business. (Juventus, the sum is less than the parts.)
Madness.
Labels: clint dempsey, Fulham, Soccer, USMNT, videos
Lavender boots make all the difference. I am speechless.
John Harkes getting England's "Goal of the Year" against a legendary British goalie was pretty important. Should probably get extra points because it was done 20 years ago when there were no Americans in England.
I'd still put Dempsey's goal today higher though.
I was thinking Harkes goal, too, but what were the stakes?
This was a winner against Juventus in the Europa League, a little bigger than a First Division game, right?
Agreed. That's why I'd put Dempsey's goals higher. But it was still a noteworthy goal that deserves to be on the list. Pretty short list though - I'd have trouble thinking of 10 "important" goals scored by Americans in Europe.
I'm sure Capt America scored for Rangers in an Old Firm punch-up, like Mo Edu just did. But is anything in Scotland all that important outside Ireland?
Dempsey scoring to keep Fulham up is my personal winner (despite the shot itself being sorta average), just because that changed the fortunes of the club. None of this current Europa League business would be possible if Fulham were in the Colaship. Plus it was his first goal for Fulham after coming on as a sub in that match against Pool.
Here is Dempsey's team saving goal from May of 2007.
Dempsey's goal here ranks higher than Harkes's for the sheer audacity of the strike. Sure Harkes was 30 y ards out, but Dempsey has already hit one of those this year so they cancel each other out. Kind of like multiplying fractions.
Awesomeness. And hey, Bruce from dunord called it pretty strongly on Twitter too.
I may be a total nerd, but that highlight gives me the goosebumps.
I think this goal is bigger than the Europa league. Fulham isn't going to be playing CL anytime soon, so this IS their Champions League. Juventus is a quality team and this victory ranks up there as historic. Fulham fans will be dialing up 606 and World Football phone in 15 years from now and asking Sean Wheelock, what happened to Dempsey, it's that kind of important. On that scale, I don't think anyone has scored more important a goal.
For an American to have not one, but two goals from long distance that defy physics, says a lot about the player Clint is. He may disappear often, but if it is a big game, you can almost always guarantee he is going to be a factor.
Let England watch Landon - Demps is the guy that will probably take us far.