Mediotiempo.com blares the headline "The Ghost of the Maxigolazo: First Rodriguez, now Feilhaber."
I hadn't considered the eerie similarity between Maxi Rodriguez's goal that knocked Mexico out of the World Cup last year and Benny Feilhaber's strike that knocked Mexico out of the Gold Cup on Sunday.
Okay, I'll put it up for debate. Who scored the better goal: Maxi Rodriguez or Benny Feilhaber? State your case.
In case you need to compare them...
Here's Maxi's
and now Benny's
10 comments:
Benny's was hit harder, but Maxi's gets my nod. Wow ... in the knock-out rounds of the WC ... volley from his chest. Great stuff.
Great win by the US. If we can start scoring on the open net opportunities ... there were 3 in the last 2 games alone. Donovan versus Canada and Ching & Beasley today.
Maxi's was better, though I enjoyed Benny's more
Feilhaber's strike was a great one-time volley, but Rodriguez's was sublime, coming off a cross from the left touchline (chested, swiveled and rocketed the volley)...
Gold Cup final vs. World Cup Round of 16, about even, I'd say. A win in the Gold Cup means something (the ticket to South Africa in 2009), while for Mexico, while a win in the round of 16 of the WC is an important step, they probably knew that realistically it was only going to extend their hopes by another week at best.
Yes, the winner of that game was doomed to lose to Germany in the quarterfinals.
I'd have to give the nod to Maxi, but the fact that Benny's could even be argued as competitive shows how great his was.
Is anyone else excited to see Benny in Copa America against Argentina? He had a great game against Messi way back with the U20s.
Ah, the future of U.S. soccer. In my last espn.com piece on the USMNT, I had Benny as the heir apparent - he's definitely stepping up.
Ok after a couple of nights sleeping on it the Copa doesn't seem so bad. But our forward selection still looks pretty slim. Hopefully Davies and Gomez will bring some new life into that position. I also remember something about Lee being able to play a bit at the forward position
Maxi's was a thing of beauty among many beautiful goals scored in international competition by Argentinians.
Benny's goal was a shot of the highest international standard, something like which I have never witnessed an American player do in International competition.
Seems to me (and admittedly as a soccer playing hack) that Maxi's was a better looking goal, but that Benny's was probably significantly harder to pull off. I would say that 99 times out of 100 that shot would be way into the stands over the net. Maxi's shot usually meets the same fate 98 out of 100 times, though I suppose both demand a great deal of luck on top of the amazing skill.
"Maxi's shot usually meets the same fate 98 out of 100 times"
You've got to be kidding, right? The beauty of Maxi's shot is not just the final strike. It's the chested control, while being marked, that allowed the shot. It's also the pressure of the game - WC round of 16, extra time, tired legs, etc.
Feilhaber's strike was awesome though, and great that he had the confidence to hit it.
Both goals were great, but I'd give the nod to Maxi Rodriguez. He had to chest the ball down first, then turn his body around, and hit that ball. Not very many people can do that in a game, let alone a WC game.
Great win by the U.S.! I am disappointed I could not find a spot in Italy to watch the game.
Post a Comment