Football’s Greatest Goals No.17
This week’s ‘Greatest Goal‘ comes from Justin Fashanu of Norwich City back in . The goal was given the ‘Match of the Day Goal of the Season’ award for the 1979/80 season and has been used on the opening credits of the show numerous times since.
John Bond’s Norwich were hosting champions Liverpool at Carrow Road and the score was 3-2 to Liverpool with 81 minutes gone.
The goal came about as Norwich were taking the game to Liverpool, who had all but two of their outfield players behind the ball.
Norwich had the ball out wide on the left before a couple of passes were exchanged and suddenly Justin Fashanu was fed the ball by John Ryan.
Fashanu was stood with his back to goal at the edge of the penalty area. He had to think fast as Liverpool’s Alan Kennedy was pulling at his left arm and had stuck a foot out to try and get to the ball before him.
The Norwich forward flicked the ball up with his right foot and swivelled to his right, pushing Kennedy away and giving himself an extra yard of space.
As the ball dropped down, Fashanu crashed in a left foot volley that sailed over Alan Hansen, the nearest defender and high into the far corner of the net.
Despite diving and attempting to get the ball, Liverpool’s Ray Clemence stood no chance of getting to the ball.
If you watch the video of the goal below, there is something quite special about Fashanu’s reaction. He does a little skip of joy as he realised a split second before the ball hit the net! After that, there was no beaming smile or screaming out in joy, just a finger raised in acknowledgement before walking away.
Even as his team mates come rushing towards him to congratulate him, Fashanu doesn’t even break a smile. There’s almost a defiance to his persona.
The goal made the score 3-3 with nine minutes to go, but Liverpool came back with two late goals to win 5-3. It was a classic eight goal thriller with the extra bonus of the ‘Goal of the Season’ scored.
Tragically, Justin Fashanu committed suicide on the 2nd May 1998. He was just 37 years old.
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