Ten of the best goals of the week - 18 to 24 November

#1 Shinji Okazaki - Japan vs Australia

A back-heel goal is like a rare diamond; you see only a few of them, but they never fail to get your attention. Shinji Okazaki scored one of them as Japan emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline over Australia on Tuesday.

The goal came off his right foot in the 68th minute of the match as Okazaki after Yasuyuki Konno had given the Asian Champions a lead.

#2 Dawida Tomczuka - Prokocim Krakow vs Borkiem Krakow

A goal straight from the Polish 7th division, this one features a screamer from Prokocim Kraków‘s Dawida Tomczuka against Borkiem Krakow in a U-13 match. The goal was scored from 35 yards out, and there was no way the goalkeeper was getting to it.

#3 Jakub Sylvestr - FC Nurnberg vs FC Ingolstadt

Rene Weiler celebrated his first victory as he made his managerial debut for Bundesliga 2 side FC Nürnberg, who registered a close 2-1 win over league leaders Ingolstadt 04. But the highlight of the match remains Jakub Sylvestr‘s goal which came during the first half of the match. Nurnberg opened the scoring with a goal from Robert Koch who headed in the ball after a cross from Sylvestr within the first 15 minutes of the game.

Nürnberg doubled their lead with a fast counter-attacking goal nine minutes later. The goal came after a poorly executed corner routine from Ingolsadt when goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky found Sylvestr with a long ball. The Slovak striker had no problem putting the ball into the net, which he did with a well-composed left-footed finish.

Ingolstadt pulled a goal back in the 71st minute through Moritz Hartmann, but it was already too late for an equalizer.

#4 Olivier Giroud - Arsenal vs Manchester United

While Arsenal were trailing 0-2 down at home, their French forward Olivier Giroud, who had come on late as a substitute, pulled one goal back for them through a vicious and powerful shot in the dying minutes of the match.

Even though the goal was perhaps a bit too late for the Gunners, it was a good way for Giroud to mark his return to football after being out for three months with a broken ankle.

#5 Mile Jedinak - Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

Crystal Palace were a goal down at home following an opening goal from Rickie Lambert, but they would go on to complete a comeback, thanks to goals fromDwight Gayle,Joe Ledley and Mile Jedinak. However, it was Jedinak's goal that caught everyone's attention.

TheAustralian international scored the third goal through a free-kick from 25-yard-out. To be honest, I wasnt even sure if I was going to take it, was Jedinaks reaction following the match.Gayley (Dwight Gayle) put the ball down and I said Ill have a go and he looked at me with bemusement.

I just felt something and luckily it went in, he adds.

#6 Paul-Georges Ntep - Rennes vs Guingamp

Rennes extended their unbeaten run to 7 matches with a 1-0 win over Guingamp in a Ligue 1 encounter. Ntep’s goal was the only goal scored in the match, which proved to be the winning goal eventually.

The goal was a product of multiple passes among the Rennes player, and it could have been a much greater move if not for the final pass.

#7 Robbie Brady - Ireland vs United States of America

The second goal in this list that came from a free-kick, this beauty was scored by Irish International Robbie Brady. This was his second of the match, and easily his best in a while.

Ireland were already 3-1 up when Brady curled in his free-kick from 30-yard-out into the top corner, finding its way past goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

#8 Mario Gotze - Bayern Munich vs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

Bayern Munich continued their good run in the Bundesliga as they registered a thumping 4-0 win over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim with a screamer from 25 metres out, sending the ball into the top corner of the net.

Despite trying his hardest, goalkeeper Oliver Baumann didn’t stand a chance to block the German’s powerful shot.

#9 Russell Martin - Norwich City vs Brighton

Russell Martin’s stunner from 30 yards out finds a special place in this list as this stands as my personal favourite goal of the week. It is worth noting that Martin is a right-back.

Following the goal, even Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper David Stockdale was impressed with Martin’s strike. He said, “It was one of the best strikes I have seen, not that I saw much of it because it was past me so quick and when it goes past you, you have no idea where it goes.”

“He is a good lad as well. I didn’t want him to score but it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.”

#10 Lionel Messi - Barcelona vs Sevilla

Lionel Messi broke Telmo Zarra’s long standing record of 251 goals in the La Liga to create history with a hat-trick in Barcelona’s 5-1 win against Sevilla. Entering the match on 250 goals, the Argentine equalled the record with a beautiful free-kick in the 21st minute.

He would eventually go on to complete his hat-trick in the match, taking his tally to 253.