Tottenham’s Erik Lamela scored a Rabona goal in the Europa League this weekErik Lamela, or should we say Erik Rabona, lit up White Hart Lane with a goal of true South American brilliance. Awing the thousands sitting in the stands, Lamela did the unthinkable by scoring a Rabona goal.For the uninitiated, a Rabona is a trick shot where the striking leg is wrapped around the back of the standing leg to hit the ball. It is a technique usually synonymous with assists, but young Erik showed a kind disregard for the usual modus operandi and scored using the rarely seen technique.Let’s dig up the history books and take a look at other players who scored using this piece of “tekkers”.
#5 Dave De Jong vs Greuther Furth
Domestic Cups have a funny way of favoring upsets. Third Tier German team Osnabruck were trailing 2-1 at home to Greuther Furth when in the 83rd minute Dutch defender Dave De Jong came up and scored a brilliant equilizer.
After the ball had been pushed out from a corner De Jong instinctively Rabona’d the ball into the far corner of the net, all while off balance. I guess hes a centre half for a reason. Take nothing away from the Dutchman: he was Brazilian for half a second.
The defenders heroics pushed the game into extra time, where Osnabruck won on penalties 10-9.
#4 Peter Madsen vs Sonderjyske
Peter Madsen added gloss to the annihilation of their hosts by scoring this goal. If I was a Sonderjyske player I wouldn’t have been too happy about the finish. It’s similar to the feeling of getting backhand slapped by your mother. In front of your friends.
After faking inside and beating a couple of players, including the goalie, the experienced forward Rabona’d it into an empty net, putting salt into a gaping wound.
6-0 at the hands of your hosts probably did not go down well with the Sonderjyske fans, and definitely not after that last goal.
1:15 for the goal.
#3 Angel Di Maria vs AEK Athens
This is somewhat of a specialty for the now Manchester United man. At Real Madrid he pulled this trick out of the bag for a Renaldo goal in the champions league and also did it in a pre season match in China.
But it all started here. In a Europa League Group match vs AEK Athens, Di Maria put away his second of the match in fantastic fashion. This is the type of goal I would score on FIFA while playing against my mother. This is real life though.
After brilliantly cutting inside, Di Maria brilliantly Rabona’d the ball into the far corner. What was even more impressive was that it was done at speed. It just goes to show what a great talent he is. Yes, I’m a United Fan.
#2 Andres Vasquez vs Orebro SK
At first viewing, there’s only one thing you are thinking: cross. However the man who scored the goal, Andres Vasquez, firmly disagrees.
After dispossessing his opponent on the right hand side, Vasquez Rabona’d the goalkeeper from a difficult angle outside the box.
In an interview with the paper later in the year, after the goal had been voted the finest in Sweden that year, he stressed it had not been a misplaced cross and added: "It was like I had magic in my feet. I felt that I could do anything - that nothing was impossible."
We’ll well take your word for it Andres.
#1 Matias Urbano vs Union La Calera
The Argentinean born striker took the Internet by storm by scoring an absolutely sensational volleyed Rabona. After receiving a cross from the left hand side, Urbano decided it be best to strike the ball with his opposing foot rather than do it the normal way. It was a beautiful goal, placed perfectly into the bottom corner of the goal.
What’s more impressive is the context of this goal. It turned out to be the equalizer against the Chilean Primera Division league leaders La Calera. As Martin Tyler once famously said : “you’d take a tap-in in these circumstances”. Matias disagrees with you Martin.
It wasn’t over there. The week after this goal, Urbano scored a brace. The second of the two goals was, yes, you guessed it, another Rabona.
