By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 23, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Goals are not all created equal. Spanish-language TV announcers use the word golazo or bombazo to describe a great goal taken from outside the penalty area. The Brits like to refer to one as a screamer or a cracker. Either way, goals scored from outside the 18-yard box always get a rise in blood pressure from announcers. For the fans, such an extraordinary individual effort usually leaves them pumped or open-mouthed, depending on whether the goal went in your favor or not.
In May, Carlos Ruiz’s left-footed volley from 35 yards out against the Chicago Fire turned out to be the game-winner for the Philadelphia Union. The May 21st goal was so dramatic and amazing that it was immediately nominated by TV pundits, bloggers, and tweets for 2011 “Goal of the Year” consideration for the way the ball incredibly dipped over goalkeeper Jon Conway at just the right time. A month later, MLS fans were treated to another spectacular strike from outside the box – this time from Vancouver Whitecaps forward Eric Hassli.
Hassli’s goal, a precise shot that made it 2-2 against rivals Seattle Sounders, was nominated for an ESPY (losing to Abby Wambach’s goal for the USA against Brazil at the recent Women’s World Cup) and remains the highlight from one of the best games of this season. Hassli’s wonder-strike from the edge of the box has been viewed on the League’s YouTube channel a staggering 1.3 million times since that June 11th game. That does not include how many times it was posted on other blogs and replayed over and over by ESPN, Fox Soccer and TV channels around the world.
“I could give him that shot probably another 99 times and I don’t know if he’s going to score it, but he did,” Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller told reporters after the game. “Sometimes, you’ve just got to shake somebody’s hand and say, ‘Hey, that’s a hell of a goal.’”
If it looks as if there are more golazos this season, it’s because there have been. As of all games played through July 31st, a league-record 88 out of 480 goal were scored from beyond the 18-yard line. That figure represents 18% of all goals – the highest percentage in any of the nine seasons since Major League Soccer started compiling the stat. More than ever, MLS players are smashing the ball from long-range and recording goals as a result.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this trend has continued into the second half of the season. From August 3rd to the 9th, there were 11 goals netted from beyond the 18-yard line in 12 games for an average of 0.91 per match – more than double the average for a span of games played over a week.
No matter who scores a goal from distance, the great thing about them is that they look great and are also nearly impossible to stop. Whether it’s a volley or a swerving shot, strikers know that they have to take their chances whenever they get the chance. Getting on the end of a loose ball and unleashing a shot aimed at the goal often leaves the goalkeeper rooted to the ground or flying in despair to try and put a glove on it. In the case of Ruiz and Hassli, both goals were key (and came during the run of play, not a free kick) to the outcome of a game.
Long-range goals have also become an ingredient for success. It is no coincidence that teams vying for playoff spots have scored the most goals from outside the box. Through July 31st, the playoff-bound Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders led the League in that category with seven goals. Behind them with six were the Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, FC Dallas, New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC. With the exception of New England and Toronto, all of these teams are in playoff contention.
The Galaxy may have free-kick specialist David Beckham in the lineup, but it is Brazilian midfielder Juninho who has been vital in blasting balls from outside the area. All three of his goals this season have come as a result of long-range efforts from distance. Juninho opened the season against the Sounders with a long-range effort in what turned out to be the game’s only goal.
“I didn’t know I was going to score because I had (Keller) in front of me but I just decided to hit the ball,” Juninho said.
Although an argument can be made that long-range goals are the result of better players coming into the League, the increase in goal production from outside the penalty box can also be because of watered down goalkeeping. With MLS now featuring 18 teams (19 in 2012 with the inclusion of the Montreal Impact), goalkeepers who would not have gotten a chance to start just a few years ago are now guarding the nets on a regular basis. Just as expansion in baseball led to a diluted pitching pool, so too has goalkeeping. How else would one explain the arrival of foreign goalkeepers into MLS this season?
Countering that argument is Columbus Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer. He said that goalkeeping across the League “is as good as it has ever been, if not better.”
“We have many internationals that have started or are starting for their respective countries and a handful of Americans who could all hold their own in almost any League in the world,” he added. “Moreover, many guys on the bench could easily be starters in the League. I think MLS goalkeeping from top to bottom is almost as good, if not as good, as any league in the world.”
Hesmer also blamed the goals not on goalies, but the ball.
“It really is all over the place,” he said. “Maybe players have learned how to hit it so it moves and knuckles unpredictably and are taking advantage of it.”
Scorers don’t buy the theory. Instead, players said they have found dribbling the ball into the box fruitless. With defenses tighter than ever across the League, players are creating more space for themselves in the midfield and trying their luck at blasting bombs.
“I have been able to create space for myself during the run of play,” Juninho said. “I have also been playing further back this season and this way I can run up and put a better swerve on the ball. All my goals have come from outside the box this season and that has given me confidence to shoot more from outside the area.”
Clemente Lisi is a New York-based writer. Contact him at: CAL4477@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ClementeLisi
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