Goal of Year shortlist announced by FIFA

By Reuters – Global Times Source:Reuters - Global Times Published: 2013-11-11 23:48:02

Acrobatic volleys and long-range shots domi­nated the shortlist of 10 goals for FIFA's Goal of the Year award announced Monday.

There were no flowing tiki-taka moves or individual runs from the halfway line among the candidates which included two goals from women's soccer.

FIFA said the goals (http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/puskasaward/index.html) were chosen "by a panel of experts and members of FIFA's football committee."

The list included Zlatan Ibrahimovic's speculative 25-meter overhead kick for Sweden against England, scored late in a friendly when his team were already winning 3-2.

There was also a spectacular effort from the Mexican league where Pachuca's Argentinian midfielder Daniel Ludena scored from inside his own half against UANL after spotting the opposing goalkeeper off his line.

Udinese's veteran striker Antonio di Natale also made the list with a volley which resembled Marco van Basten's stunning effort in the 1988 European Championship final for the Netherlands.

Receiving a looping diagonal cross, Di Natale sent a left-foot volley crashing into the far corner in the match against Chievo.

There were also acrobatic efforts from Peter Ankersen (Esbjerg), Nemanja Matic (Benfica) and Panagiotis Kone (Bologna).

Matic's effort ­followed a bout of head-tennis, described by FIFA as an "awesome circus-like goal."

There were long-range goals from Neymar (Brazil) and Juan Manuel Olivera (Nautico).

The women's goals included a long-range ­effort from Louisa Nacib (Lyon) and a bicycle kick by Australian Lisa de Vanna (Sky Blue FC) in the  National Women's Soccer League of the US.

The winner will be announced at the FIFA Player of the Year award ceremony in Zurich on January 13.

Reuters - Global Times



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