Goalkeepers
do not normally score in a football game but it can happen. Sometimes
freak kick from their own goal may, by fluke or design, catch the
opposing goalkeeper out and go in. Sometimes a goalkeeper will score
a penalty. At times a goalkeeper may come up the pitch for a corner
or free kick and score. Goalkeepers who for some reason become
outfield players for one match or more are no loner goalkeepers
strictly speaking.
1. Pat
Jennings. Arguably the most famous goal of all time by a keeper is
Jennings' effort in the 1967 Charity Shield while playing for Spurs
against Manchester United. His goal clearance flew past Alex Stepney
in the opposite goal after being caught by a gust of wind.
2. Alex
Stepney. Stepney later discovered what it was like to score when, in
1973, he was appointed penalty taker by manager Tommy Docherty. There
were only to of these before things moved on but Stepney netted both
and at one moment was the club's top scorer.
3. Peter
Shilton. Shilton scored the only goal of his long career during a
game between Leicester City and Southampton in October, 1967.
Southampton goalkeeper, Campbell Forsyth, misjudged Shilton's long
punt upfield and, instead of splashing harmlessly in the mud, it spun
off the pitch and flew over Forsyth's head into the goal. Leicester
won 5-1.
4. Peter Schmeichel. Schmeichel scored 13 goals in his long career, including a headed equaliser for Manchester United from a
corner in an UEFA Cup tie against Rotor Volgograd in 1996. His last
effort was for Aston Villa when they lost to Everton 3-2 in the
Premier League in October 2001.
5. Kaspar
Schmeichel. Like father, like son, Peter Schmeichel's son scored
while keeping goal in March, 2014, a stoppage time equaliser for
Leicester City against Yeovil Town.
6. Brad Friedel. When Blackburn took on Charlton in February 2004, the
American scored with his foot in the aftermath of a corner in the
89th minute to equalise. Some of the shine was taken off that goal as
Charlton still found time to score again and won 3-2.
7. Paul
Robinson. In March 2007 Spurs hosted Watford. Robinson lined up a
free-kick not too far from his own box, just after the hour mark. He
appeared to be hoping to connect with a Spurs striker in the Watford
penalty area, but his long ball bounced just inside the edge of the
visitors’ box before looping over the head of Watford keeper Ben
Foster to score Spurs’ second goal. They won 3-1.
8. Tim Howard. In January 2012 there was another fluke. The ball rolled
to the Everton goalkeeper inside his own box and the American’s
long ball went up high and long and bounced just outside Bolton’s
box. It gained great height off the bounce and went over Adam
Bogdan's head into the opposite goal.
9. Asmir
Begovic. Yet another fluke. A back pass rolled to Begovic’s feet
inside the Stoke box. His long clearance travelled the length of the
pitch before bouncing about 10 yards outside the Southampton penalty
area. It looped over the head of Artur Boruc and found the net. Stoke
went on to draw the game 1-1. This was in November 2013. Boruc's
positioning was no doubt at fault. Begovic’s strike for Stoke was
the longest-range goal in Premier League history.
10.
Alisson Becker. This list was prompted by Brazilian Alisson Becker's
recent goal for Liverpool against West Brom, when he came up for a
late corner. It means Liverpool are still in contention for a place
in Europe next season.
