Keep The Faith

Sinan Bolat’s dramatic late strike for Standard Liege in the Champions League last night was just the latest in a long line of goalscoring heroics from goalkeepers. Neil Sherwin takes a look at ten of the best.

1. Jimmy Glass – Carlisle United

Jimmy Glass’ dramatic strike to keep Carlisle United in the football league in 1999 is one of the game’s greatest fairytale moments. The on-loan keeper was playing for his career in a struggling side that looked to be heading for relegation as their final game of the season ticked over into injury time. However, with four additional minutes played, a loose ball dropped to Glass and he smashed it home to save preserve the Cumbrians’ league status. Despited his heroics, the club could not afford to keep the town’s new star and he retired shortly afterwards.

2. Rogerio Ceni -Sao Paolo

Brazilian goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni is recognised by FIFA as the goalkeeper to have scored the most goals in the history of football. Throughout a long and distinguished career, he has amassed a whopping 85 goals, justifying his reputation as a dead ball specialist.

3. Jose Luis Chilavert – Velez Sarsfield

Like Ceni, Jose Luis Chilavert knew where the back of the net was on a regualar basis. The Paraguay international scored 62 goals in his professional career, including eight at international level. In 1999, he became the first goalkeeper to score a hattrick in the history of football, while playing for Velez against Ferro Carril Oeste, with all three goals coming from the penalty spot.

4. Hans Jorg Butt – Bayer Leverkusen/Bayern Munich

German international Hans Jorg Butt is a renowned penalty specialist and has scored consistently throughout his career. However, in one particular game against Schalke 04, he got a little too carried away with his celebration….

5. Peter Schmeichel – Manchester United/Aston Villa

The Great Dane was on target for United against Rotor Volgograd in the Uefa Cup in 1995, having previously hit the target a number of times in his home country. He also found the net later in his career while playing for Aston Villa against Everton.

6. Mart Poom – Sunderland

With Sunderland a goal down away to Derby County, giant Estonian Mart Poom made his way into the penalty area. As the left wing corner was swung in, the keeper rose above everyone else to power a header into the net to salvage a point for his side.

7. Paul Robinson – Leeds United/Tottenham Hotspur

England international Robinson has found the net for two different clubs. He headed an equaliser for Leeds United in their League Cup clash with Swindon Town in 2003 and repeated the feat in 2007 with Spurs when the bounce from his long free kick deceived Watford’s Ben Foster.

8. Danny Cepero – New York Red Bulls

On his MLS debut in 2008, rookie Danny Cepero scored almost a carbon copy of Robinson’s strike for Spurs. His team were awarded a free kick deep in their own half in the 83rd minute of their game against Columbus Crew. The keeper sent a long punt forward which took a very high bounce on a rock hard pitch and dropped into the net.

9. Brad Friedel – Blackburn Rovers

United States star Friedel rescued a point for his Blackburn Rovers side against Charlton Athletic by calming slotting home a loose ball in the penalty area.

10. Luis Martinez – Colombia

Colombia’s warm up game for the 2006 World Cup against Poland provided yet another goal for the goalkeeping community. Luis Martinez launched a huge punt from his own area that was misjudged by Tomas Kuszczak who was left stranded as the ball looped over his head.

Have you got any more great goalkeeper goals? If so then let us know!