5 instances when goalkeepers scored insane goals

How often do we see goalkeepers score a goal that isn’t in a penalty shootout but during the game? Instances like these are few and far between with many of them being either freak goals or scored from a last-minute scramble in the box. But there have been instances when the men with the gloves have also scored from other situations. We take a look at few such goals that will always be remembered by the fans. Goals which the opposition goalkeepers would like to forget but probably never will.

#1 Tim Howard

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard scored goal against Bolton Wanderers in the EPL

Before Tim Howard shot to fame in the World Cup when he made 16 saves in a Round of 16 match against Belgium, he was just another American footballer who reached the shores of England, trying to make a name for himself in the Premier League.

But one moment in 2012 will be a major highlight in his career – when he scored from his own box in an EPL match against Bolton Wanderers. As the ball rolled into his box, Howard attempted to launch an attack upfield with a long ball.

Only it was too long, thanks in part to the windy conditions at Goodison Park that winter night in January. The ball bounced once outside the box and looped high above Adam Bogdan in Bolton’s goal before bouncing again inside the goal line. On another day, he may have judged that perfectly. Not that night.

Howard refused to celebrate, as most goalkeepers do when they score against their opposite number. "It was cruel. You saw the back fours and the keepers not being able to believe balls all night, and at the back one wrong step and it can be a nightmare,” Howard said, according to The Guardian.

“For our goal I was disappointed from a goalkeepers' union standpoint. You never want to see that happen. It's not nice, it's embarrassing, so I felt for Adam but you have to move on from it.”

#2 Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson scored a goal for Tottenham against Watford

Paul Robinson has seen ups and downs in his career in England. He has played for Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers in a career that also saw him play for England between 2003 and 2007. Though he has been criticized for many errors leading to goals, both on club and international duty, there is one goal that will see his name go down in the history books.

Robinson once held the record for the longest goal scored in the Premier League. The English goalkeeper was at Tottenham at the time when he scored against Watford in 2007. When the Spurs received a free kick in their own half, Robinson sent his team forward and launched a long ball towards Watford’s half.

The ball went over every player except Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster, who completely misjudged the flight of the ball. Foster was in two minds and eventually just hopped helplessly on the spot knowing he was never going to save it as the ball bounced into the goal to spark celebrations.

After the game, Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd said: "I've never seen anything like that before to be honest, but it's a freak goal and Ben Foster will bounce back and fulfill his potential as one of the best keepers in England,” as reported by BBC.

#3 Rogerio Ceni

Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scored his 100th career goal from a free kick against Corinthians

When Rogerio Ceni stepped up to take a free kick in a game between Sao Paulo and Corinthians in March 2011, the world watched with anticipation and held their breath. Why? Because Ceni was on 99 career goals.

The Brazilian goalkeeper did not disappoint. As his free kick curled over the wall and into the top left corner to spark off wild celebrations as Ceni took off his shirt like any other outfield player would do when scoring a landmark goal.

“It was beautiful,” said Ceni after the game, according to Mail Online. “As a goalkeeper you don't enter the match thinking about scoring a goal, but it happened just as I wanted: with a free kick, deciding an important match.

“For me, it doesn't matter that it was against Corinthians, but for the fans it must have been important.”

In total, Ceni has scored 130 goals in club football. It’s remarkable that a goalkeeper has scored more than a 100 goals in his career, many of which have come from free kicks. In fact, this was his 56th free kick goal. Cristiano Ronaldo who?

#4 Asmir Begovic

Asmir Begovic goal scored a goal for Stoke City against Southampton just 13 seconds after kickoff

The former Stoke City goalkeeper made a move to Chelsea this summer, but he will forever be remembered for this goal against Southampton in 2013. The match had barely kickedd off and fans were still finding their seats when Stoke won possession after the Saints had kicked off (barely two passes made in the match so far).

Under pressure from Jay Rodriguez, Begovic latched onto a back pass from Stoke City defender Erik Pieters and simply kicked it straight down the middle of the Britannia Stadium pitch. The ball sailed over every player and landed between the two Southampton centre backs who let it go for Artur Boruc to catch.

But Boruc himself wasn’t ready for it and was off his line. As he tried to recover quickly, backpedalling towards goal, the ball bounced once more before hitting the back of the net. As Stoke celebrated, Begovic himself looked embarrassed and refused to celebrate, opting to simply shake his head and take a drink from his water bottle.

The goal saw him enter the Guiness Book of World Records for the longest goal scored in football – 91.9m.

#5 Martin Hansen

ADO Den Haag goalkeeper Martin Hansen scored a goal against PSV

Many goalkeepers have scored last minute goals from corner kicks. Few have done it with as much style as ADO Den Haag goalkeeper Martin Hansen. And he did it against Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven.

With PSV leading 2-1, Den Haag had a free kick in PSV’s half in the 95th minute. Desperately needing a goal, the Danish goalkeeper also made his way into the opposition’s box and waited for the delivery.

The ball came but it was going behind him as he made a run across the box. But he had the presence of mind to try and use his back heel while attempting to volley it. The timing was perfect and the ball went past the outstretched arm of his opposite number into the bottom corner!