It took Tim Cahill just seven seconds to set the New York Red Bulls on their way to a 3-0 win at Houston Dynamo last Sunday, placing the Australian striker in the MLS record books with the qui
It took Tim Cahill just seven seconds to set the New York Red Bulls on their way to a 3-0 win at Houston Dynamo last Sunday, placing the Australian striker in the MLS record books with the quickest goal in the league’s history.
So, without further ado, here are some of the greatest fastest goals ever scored:
1. Roy Makaay vs. Real Madrid – 7th March 2007: 10 Seconds
Roberto Carlos won’t want to see this goal again. The famous left-back was caught day-dreaming and so punished by Bayern Munich’s Dutch striker Roy Makaay after losing the ball out wide to winger Hasan Salihamidžić who crossed for Makaay to slam home the quickest goal in Champions League history, eclipsing the record held by former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva.
2. Nicklas Bendtner vs. Tottenham – 22nd December 2007: 1.8 Seconds
Nicklas Bendtner is a man that doesn’t really divide opinion as he thinks he does. For Arsenal fans he’s a burden, for others he is used for comedic purposes. In this North London Derby, Bendtner set himself in Premier League history with the fastest goal a substitute has ever scored. The Danish striker came off the bench with just over ten minutes to play and with an impressive jump powerfully headed home a Cesc Fabregas corner to give Arsenal all three points.
3. Ledley King vs. Bradford – 9th December 2000: 10 Seconds
The man Thierry Henry labelled ‘the hardest defender’, if you had to name the player who holds the record for the fastest Premier League goal, few would name Ledley King. The former Tottenham captain gave Spurs the lead at Bradford after a poor clearance gave him the opportunity to come forward and strike a deflected shot pass keeper Matthew Clarke in just under 11 seconds.
4. Nawaf Al Abed vs. Al Shoalah – 5th November 2011: 2.4 Seconds
Ricardo Olivera will dispute this but Al Abed lays claim to the quickest goal in professional football history, which was also down to very quick thinking. Spotting the keeper off his line, as Olivera did, Al Abed shot straight from kick off with the ball soaring over the keeper into the back of the net to set Al Ahli on their way to a 4-0 victory and the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Cup.
5. Marc Burrows vs. Eastleigh Reserves – April 2004: 2 Seconds
The warm-hearted story of the late Marc Burrows. While Abed and Olivera will dispute over the fastest goal in professional terms, in all of footballing history that accolade well and truly belongs to Marc Burrows. Playing for Cowes Sport FC against Eastleigh in a reserve game in 2004, Burrows, as Abed did, shot from kick-off and scored brilliantly with American football like technique after being teed up by his teammates. Sadly Burrows died in 2009 after being diagnosed with cancer.
What are some of your favourite fast goals scored in football? Have your say in the comments section below, on Facebook or on Twitter.
Image: Matthew Wilkinson / Flickr
