They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place. Some of our Premier League stars over the years have taken that saying to heart, scoring so rarely but with such flashiness that everyone remembers that one goal.
While it’s not necessarily their only goal ever, no other strike has come close to matching their wonder goals – and here we’ve put together a list of five of the greatest.
#5 Federico Macheda (Manchester United)
The young Italian was included in a Manchester United squad chasing Premier League glory on the back of several impressive performances for the U-18 and reserves sides and shot to instant fame with his debut goal against Aston Villa.
Not only were United making a trademark comeback under Sir Alex Ferguson, they were desperately chasing a win to keep their heads above water in the title race – a win that Macheda secured with a curling shot inside the far post in the third minute of added time. This prompted wild celebrations, and a legendary – if momentary – status for Macheda.
A status that unfortunately proved too much for the young striker to bear, making him one of the wonders on our list of one-goal that everyone remembers.
#4 Yuri Zhirkov (Chelsea)
Signed in 2009 for a reported £18 million, Chelsea’s Zhirkov broke Andrei Arshavin’s record as the most expensive Russian footballer of all time. It seemed to be with good reason too, as he scored the winner on debut in a friendly against AC Milan, but subsequent injury issues would see Zhirkov in and out of the side on a regular basis.
While his side won the league and FA cup double in his debut season, his only goal for them would come in the Champions league next season – an absolute screamer against Spartak Moscow in the group stages.
As someone known more for setting up goals and winning penalties than scoring them, this one is etched in the fans’ memories and his forever.
#3 Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United)
Believe it or not, in his seven seasons with the Magpies, Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote has only scored once and what a goal it was too. A peach of a volley into the bottom right corner of Wojciech Szczesny’s goal to complete Newcastle’s comeback from 4 – 0 down at half time to 4 – 4 at the full-time whistle. This is in fact, the only time in Premier League history that a team has made a comeback from four goals down.
Tiote has had a couple other efforts that ended up in the back of the net ruled out – perhaps wrongly – but we certainly aren’t complaining about how it keeps the cult status of this smashing goal right up there with the best.
#2 John Jensen (Arsenal)
Signed up by George Graham at the beginning of the 1992 – 93 season, Jensen was one of only 12 foreign players to feature on the opening weekend of the newly formed Premier League competition. While the Gunners were hoping they would be treated to repeat performances of the Dane’s goal in the 2 – 0 win over Germany in the ‘92 European Championship final, they would have to wait 98 games before he finally bagged one for them – against QPR.
98 games over which Jensen had achieved cult status among the fans with his repeated – yet failed – attempts to score, prompting fans wearing “I was there when John Jensen scored” t-shirts even to this day.
#1 Pajtim Kasami (Fulham)
First signed by Fulham in the summer window of 2011, Kasami would only make 9 league appearances for the London side over his first two seasons – with a loan spell at Swiss club Luzern sandwiched in between. However, his third season for the club would turn out to be unforgettable – at least for him if not the club as a whole – as he scored this wonder goal that would be the only one from the Premier League to be nominated for the Puskas award that year.
While James Rodriguez would take home the award and Robin van Persie’s flying header would finish ahead of Kasami’s effort, it is surely a moment that everyone in the Premier League will remember for a long long time.
