Ever seen a ~44 yard header for a goal?

[Napoleon]

Martín Palermo is known for his heading ability and has scored a few that way. In fact, he's scored more than a few that way. He's the all-time leading goal scorer in Boca Jrs history and last night he did something that's probably never been done before.

Martín headed a ball from about 6 yards goalside of the circle in midfield. According to Bild, it was a 40 meter goal which would put it at about 43 3/4 yards long. This makes McBride look like he's just learning that you can hit the ball with your head.

Martín Palermo: The Link

PS- They won the game 3-2 on that header and beat the champions from last season.

 

[1899horn]

That's like hitting a check swing home run off a Nolan Ryan fast ball.

It's too bad Palermo didn't have that kind of luck in Asuncion a few weeks ago.

 

[Napoleon]

No, but he scored 2 against two against Ghana last week in Córdoba when an entirely domestic squad played Ghana's second tier guys. (Ghana has already qualified for 2010.)

I was in a classic Argentine "resto-bar" and the TV was on. And older woman (possibly homeless) was in the mostly empty restaurant when I hurried to see a replay of the goal. She could hear that Argentina had scored, but she asked me in Spanish-

"Who are they playing?"

I responded "Ghana".

She responded, "Sí, yo sé que Argentina gana, pero contra quien?"

"Ghana"

"Sí, gana, pero contra quien?"

Finally my Argentine lady friend (/novia/ I don't know where we are right now...) explained that the other team is from a country in Africa called "Ghana".

"Oooohhh, entiendo."...

It was absolutely a "Who's on first?" routine... but in real life. I thought it was hilarious. And Palermo had two headers for goals in a 2-0 win and basically secured his spot in the squad for the final two qualifiers. It's not just that he's about 6'2" to 6'3" and playing against 5'7" defenders in the Argentine league, he really can do amazing things with that cabeza of his.

 

[Bill in Sinton]

Looks like the goalie and/or some of the defenders were caught out of position. If the goalie had been near the goal where he was supposed to be that would have been an easy stop.

 

[Napoleon]

The goalie was the one who kicked the ball. He was where he was supposed to be, because he rushed out to clear the ball before the Boca forward could get to the ball. It's just that it was a crappy line drive clearance right to the best head in all of fútbol.