Away Goals Rule.
The well-executed away goal is one of the most exhilarating moments in football. From a player’s perspective it is obviously important as an against-the-odds vindication of the team’s efforts. But for fans, it can be a moment of sheer joy. But what makes a great away goal? It’s not just the quality, in fact, the quality isn’t so important. It’s the context. It’s the silencing of the vast majority of the stadium. It’s the unhinged celebrations, the all too rare sense that players and fans are working for the same cause together, most evidently displayed in the embraces between teams and fans that seem to take place more often away than at home. I love the great away goal. Expect it to become a feature of this site.
Unfortunately, this weekend’s football did not offer the best selection. I have gone for Leon Best’s goal at Villa Park. The goal itself is woeful, the kind that any world class striker would be embarrassed to score. But Leon doesn’t care, neither do his teammates and neither do the fans. Look at his grin at 0:28 and observe the mentalists killing themselves to touch him at 0:40. Good away goal.
(apologies for the “commentary”.)