International Football
Uefa Champions League Fastest Goal Clocks 10
Ten years on … Makaay scores fastest Champions League goal, recalls the official blog of UEFA.
This Tuesday marks ten years when Roy Makaay made UEFA Champions League history with a goal after 10.12 seconds, a record that still stands. We take a snap shot.
Bayern München had not scored inside the first quarter-hour of any of their seven 2006/07 UEFA Champions League outings prior to their round of 16 second leg against Real Madrid.
Then came the moment which etched Roy Makaay’s name into the competition’s history books. Madrid had in fact kicked off, but Roberto Carlos’s control was loose, allowing Hasan Salihamidžić to capitalise. The midfielder squared to Makaay, who swept past Iker Casillas after just 10.12 seconds – still the fastest ever UEFA Champions League goal.
The goal is better seen from the perspective of what happened in the first leg. Real Madrid looked to be in cruise control till two minutes to end the round of 16 match. Then Bayern München’s Mark van Bommel pulled a goal back to throw the second leg wide open.
In the return leg, recalled Makaay: “we agreed we’d apply full pressure for the first ten minutes to see if we could score an early goal.”
From the whistle the ball was played to Roberto Carlos but the Brazilian’s touch was poor, allowing Hasan Salihamidžić to capitalise. The midfielder quickly threaded a square pass through to Makaay who swept the ball past Iker Casillas. It left a Madrid side hit by the late withdrawal of Fabio Cannavaro shell-shocked.
“Normally Real played a 4-2-3-1 system but they took out their No10 and replaced him with an extra defensive midfielder. I think Guti was replaced by Emerson, so we knew Madrid would play more defensively than normal. We agreed we would apply full pressure for the first ten minutes to see if we could score an early goal.
“So they kicked off. The ball went to [Fernando] Gago, he passed it to Roberto Carlos and it bounced off his foot. Salihamidžić took the ball and before we knew it, it was in the net. Their tactical plan was immediately destroyed and we had a start you always dream of, especially in an important game like that.”
How that goal ranks
Jonas came close to breaking Makaay’s record with a strike after 10.96 seconds for Valencia against Leverkusen in 2011 – the only other UEFA Champions League goal that has come inside 20 seconds.
The UEFA Europa League best came this season, with Jan Sýkora on target after 10.69 seconds for Liberec against Qarabağ.
The quickest competitive international goal also came this term, Belgium’s Christian Benteke finding the net after 8.1 seconds against Gibraltar.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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