Football’s Greatest Goals No.61
This week’s Greatest Goal comes from the opening match of the 1994 World Cup in America.
The hosts were trailing 1-0 to Switzerland at the Pontiac Silverdome, thanks to a goal from Georges Bregy in the 39th minute. The Swiss were managed by future England manager Roy Hodgson and neither side were expected to do well in the competition.
USA won a free kick 30 yards from goal and it was taken by Eric Wynalda. The American took just three steps up to the ball before whipping it high over the five-man wall that the Swiss had set to defend the kick.
The ball flew into the top corner at the near post, clipping the underside of the bar before rippling down the net. Swiss goalkeeper Marco Pascolo made an attempt to get to the ball, but was nowhere near it.
Wynalda’s free-kick was the final goal of the game. Both sides won their second matches and lost their third, with Switzerland finishing second in the group. The Americans finished third, but as the tournament was made up of 24 teams, they still had a chance to qualify due to the best four of the six third placed teams also qualifying for the knockouts.
America along with Argentina, Belgium and Italy qualified with the six group winners and runners-up. They lost narrowly by a single goal to eventual winners Brazil in the Second Round. Switzerland were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Spain.
Eric Wynalda’s playing career went on until 2008 and he now coaches in the third tier of American football for a team called New Amsterdam.
About Author
