Soccer

Goals of the week: Usual Suspects edition

With one exception, you may have heard of some of this week’s goalscorers.

Oct 23, 2012, 11:42 AM UTC

Chris Brunskill

What’s most enjoyable about compiling this column is that it gives you a chance to see players, teams, and goals you wouldn’t otherwise. GOTW trawls the darker corners of the football world in search of the very best every week, and that means it can be an educational experience for you, dear reader. This week, we’ve unearthed some real unknown talent - keep an eye on Radamel Falcao and Neymar. We think they may be pretty good players someday.

5. Radamel Falcao, ATLETICO MADRID vs. Real Sociedad

This is fairly straightforward by Falcao’s standards - it’s a brilliant free-kick to win a game in the 89th minute. Much in the same way as nobody really enjoys derby games, if you support a big club, Falcao is the sort of player you don’t enjoy anywhere near as much as fearing that your rivals are going to sign him.

4. Jack Jewsbury, Vancouver Whitecaps vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS

It’s not all the big boys this edition. This is the hit-and-hope of the week, as we are obliged by law to include at least one goal where the scorer hit it as hard as he possibly could.

3. Neymar, SANTOS vs. Atletico Mineiro

The more gullible among our readers will be eagerly awaiting Neymar's move to Manchester United in January, and with only Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez as first-team strikers, Neymar looks like he could be the man to give United the firepower they so desperately need. He scores this goal with absolutely no support or help from his teammates whatsoever, which will put him in fine practice for feeding off that United midfield.

2. Gonzalo Higuain, REAL MADRID vs. Celta Vigo

The ‘did he mean it’ of the week is also met with the traditional response of this column: like a motel owner, it’s not in our interest to cast judgement.