Video: Is this the greatest disallowed goal ever?

Hundreds of goals are scored every week around the world in football but few are better than the bicycle kick because of the degree of difficulty involved in making the attempt and making sure that it is on target. The bicycle kick is one of the toughest goals to score for any player. The bicycle or the overhead kick requires a player to swivel his body at the perfect angle with reference to the ball while in the air, also making sure proper connection with the ball so that it is on target.

Some spectacular and timely bicycle kicks have been scored by legends of the game over the years such as Rooney’s winner in the Manchester Derby against Manchester City that was one of the goals of the season,great Brazilian striker Rivaldo’s audacious overhead kick for FC Barcelona against Valencia CF in the last league match of season that led them to a Champions League spot at Camp Nou has long been etched in the memory of the Barcelona faithful.

So when Craig Mackail Smith of lowly fourth tier English club Luton town received a cross from the right hand side from his teammate to score a magnificent overhead kick against Mansfield Town in the SkyBet League 2, everybody in the stadium could not believe their eyes at having just seen what was one of the best goals scored at Kenilworth Road . However, the linesman in the match had other ideas and harshly ruled the goal out for offside.

The celebrations of the fans and the players alike turned into disappointment which later turned into frustration after having seen the replay which showed that the goal was indeed legal and not offside as the linesman had called. Despite protests the decision was not overturned much to the disappointment of the Luton Town faithful.