Football’s Greatest Goals No.50
Tim Cahill’s thunderbolt volley for Australia against the Netherlands in the 2014 World Cup is this week’s ‘Greatest Goal’.
Australia were playing in their third successive World Cup after a 32-year hiatus from the game’s elite competition. They had lost their opening game 3-1 against Chile, with Everton’s Tim Cahill scoring The Socceroos only goal of the game.
The Netherlands were next for the Australians and the Dutch opened the deadlock after 20 minutes thanks to a fine individual goal from Arjen Robben. Australia were level though within a minute, thanks to a fantastic goal from Tim Cahill.
A long hopeful ball was played over the top of the Dutch defence and Cahill watched it all the way. As it came down over his shoulder, the Australian thumped the ball hard with a left-foot volley from twelve yards out.
Jasper Cillessen in the Netherlands goal had no chance of stopping the ball as it flew past him, crashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the roof of the net.
It was a stunning effort by Cahill, who ran off to perform his trademark celebration of sparring with the corner flag. With a hefty swing of Cahill’s left leg, the Socceroos were back in the game.
Australia went 2-1 up after the break, with captain Mile Jedinak firing home a penalty. The Dutch came back though and won 3-2 with goals from Robin van Persie and Memphis Depay to send them through to the last 16.
The Socceroos were as good as out of the competition, but Cahill’s goal gave them a wonderful memory of their short time in Brazil.
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