Who scored the better goal: David Bentley or Frank Lampard?

One was executed with extreme delicacy, a deft touch and the clinical finish of a trained assassin.

The other was a cannon, boomed with venom and raw passion. Both required a clear head, a sharp brain and a flash of genius.

But which was better?

Do you prefer Frank Lampard's poetic, left-footed chip over the head of Hull City's Boaz Myhill for Chelsea, reminiscent of Glenn Hoddle in his pomp?

Or David Bentley's crashing, dipping 40-yard volley for Tottenham at Arsenal, teed up for himself after a chest-down from Jermaine Jenas (think Tony Yeboah from twice as far and you'll be getting close)?

Click here to watch the goals again (and again, and again), and then vote below.

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Comments

[chris]

how can you compare the two goals,bentleys was class,1 touch and and on the volley...frank lampards was rubbish.

[Grant]

Bentley's was a hit and hope. Lampard knew what he wanted to do and where he wanted it to go before the came to him. Pure class!

[Andy Fedz]

You mean to tell me that there is a comparison to be made? Bentley pile drived his with menace and intent, Lampard tried to float his onto Anelkas head....fluke!
Perhaps he should shove his Chelsea Shirt under his England?
United holding onto shirt tails til' Christmas....then the charge will start!!

[Nick]

Lampard was trying to cross it

[Prakash.K]

Frank Lampard has scored so many fluke goals in his career so far but this one takes the cake. Anybody who has watched the game carefully can clearly see that he was certainly passing the ball to Anelka at the far post. By some luck, it went in to the net!
And now we are required to compare it with that stunning effort from David Beltly, what an irony!

[Nigel]

I'm a Chelsea season ticket holder, but I'd go for Bentley's 100%. What's more interesting than that debate though is the level of blind hatred there is towards Lampard out there. Four posts, of which three respectively say: unintended, unintended and rubbish. That's hardly objective debate.

[Chris]

David Bentley's simply beacuse it wasn't an attempted cross to the back post.

[Chris G]

Lampard's was a fluke? He was crossing it? What!? Has the world gone mad?

Alright then, not got you're red-rinted glasses on there at all have you..

I can understand an arguement for Bentley's being a better goal (the keeper should have saved it and it had nowhere near as much panache as Lampard's so I disagree) but at least make a rational arguement if you're going to say it!

Jesus

[Chris G]

So was it a fluke when he did it before in the friendly against the Chinese side (albeit from the other side)?

He does score a lot of 'fluke' goals (if by flukes you mean the deflections, if they're that flukey, why doesn't every central midfielder score 20+ a season.. think about it) but this was certainly not one of them.

If Stevie G or Rooney had scored it, people would be veritably onanising over this goal.

Not a Chelsea fan by the way, before that accusation turns up! Support a lower league team but prefer Liverpool and Arsenal of the 'big four'

[Harry Boulton]

Those dismissing Lampards goal are more than likely Liverpool fans, who have recently taken to dismissing anything Lampard does in an attempt to see Gerrard portrayed as the better player. Lampards goal was pure class. Opportunity, delicacy, subtlety, and precision. It was brilliant. Both were class, but I'd take Lampards. A stronger keeper might have saved Bentleys, as Alumunia timed his jump wrong and his hands were weak. Lampards was untouchable.

[steven]

why do people think Lampard was trying to cross it? in the position he was in, all frank ever trys to do is score! Bentley couldn't do his again, whilst it would be no surprise if Lampard did that in his next match!

[DW]

I'm an Arsenal fan and think Bentley's was better, I agree I thought Lampard just dinked it back into the box and got lucky, unless he comes out and says he meant it.

[Kevin]

Bentley's hit & hope was a footnote in a game that Spur's stole a point from. Lampard showed poise & technique to score the 1st goal in his teams 3-0 victory. You tell me?

ps. the whole Lampard hate thing has become so predictable it's boring.

[Ian Thomson]

I thought Lampard intended the chip. It's the better goal for me because he executed it with his weaker foot. That takes some skill.

[Ian Thomson]

I thought Lampard intended the chip. It's the better goal for me because he executed it with his weaker foot. That takes some skill.

[Sam]

Lampard's was better. I used to hate Frank Lampard but this season he has earned my respect and that goal is the best he has ever scored.

He does get his fair share of deflected goals and Bently type speculative strikes but this seasons goal against Man City and the disallowed one against Croatia show he has added an extra dimension to his game.

[Red Devil]

Lampard's goal takes more skill imho. No doubt he meant the lob and it was with his 'weaker' foot.

[Barrie Collins]

Why do people always assume that goals from long range are great? Goals scored from out there are usually due to the fact that the goalkeeper was half asleep, or totally misplayed the ball, rather than to the skill of the shooter.

Lampard's goal, on the other hand, was sublime. I'm 75 years old and it was easily one of the top three goals I've ever seen, and I can't remember the other two!

[Neil]

Bentley's was clearly the better goal as Lampard's was intended to be a chipped cross to the player running towards the far post. Anyone who has played the game can tell this by Lampard's body shape and stance as he strikes the ball - it was not a shot, but a slight mis-hit that worked out better than he intended.

[Alex]

Agreed with post regarding weak goalkeeper, Almunia should have saved it but the Hull keeper had no chance!

[Russell]

Lamps meant this one, he has tried it a few times this season and also did it in pre-season!

The Lampard hate campaign is beyond a joke, he IS world class and the best in his position in the world without a doubt. He has kicked on even further this season with the arrival of Deco, he just raises his game every time!

I agree, as with Ricardo Fullers goal, if Rooney, Gerrard or Ronaldo has scored this goal the media would have had it on the tv all week and saying how "only a few players in the world can do that" I remember Cantona and Rooney doing it and it was the best thing since sliced bread! This was his weak foot and was awesome!

On that note Bentleys technical ability to hit the shot was superb, but Almunia got a full hand to it and should have saved it!

You heard Scolari, best player in the world! That may be a bit over the top, but he is the best central midfielder in the world on present form!

[SB]

Frank's was best but I can't vote for him as I don't like him.

[Pallav Purkayastha]

This is not Lamps vs Stevie G but Lamps vs Bentley. So stick to it people. As for Stevie G he has scored some great goals but all have been boom but Lamps has been both boom and delicate.
Its so appalling to see that Lamp's own country men try to run him down on a matter as small as a goal in a league game. No wonder Jamie Carragher talked about placing more importance on club.

[Andy]

Neither.... it was Jenas'. JJ was on the move and gave keeper no chance with the swerve. Both Myhill & Alumnia were out of position on others. Plus the timing of the goal lent more to the match than either Bentley's or Lampard's.

[redordead]

Anyone who has played football can confirm that Lampard was in fact crossing to the far post. He didn't even look up for a few seconds, which he would have if he was attempting the chip. As for Bentley, the genius of it was that he had already seen Almunia off his line before he controlled the ball (without letting it touch the ground !) and knew exactly what he was doing.

[Jack]

Hard to tell in this case whether or not Lamps meant it - it did have a touch of the Hadji about it - but I agree that he is a player of true quality and gets far more flak than he deserves.

The Bentley goal, however, was something special. To "Le Tissier" from 40 yards out is impressive enough, but to do so when playing in a local derby against your former team, for a side that couldn't buy a goal last week, is simply magic.

[alec]

I'm a Chelsea fan (since 1976) and I would go for Bentley's goal as it was a once in a lifetime super strike à la Beckham, but Lampard will score top notch goals like this again and again.

[Sam Barnes]

I work at the Chelsea training ground but I am an Exeter fan. I saw Lampard attempt the same chip in training on Tuesday and hit the crossbar.

There is no doubt in my mind that he intended the shot rather than to cross the ball.

Whilst Bentley's goal was fantastic, I think it was more of a hit and hope shot, and I don't think he could do it again if he tried.

Lampard on the other hand has scored more than 20 goals a season for the last four seasons. Easily the best Midfielder in the country.

[Rich]

Why are you using Yeboah's as a comparison? Thats a blast from just outside the box whereas Bentley floated his over a flat footed keeper. A better comparison would be Alonso's three from the half way line - suddenly doesn't look so good does it?

And besides neither compare to the top ten of Le Tissier. Oh how we miss that tubby genius!

[Ciaran]

How many times have we seen thumping goals scored from 30 -40 yards? Plenty. How many goals have we seen chipped by a player's weaker foot? I cant recall any to date..... Lampard's was a mark of sheer class. Bentley's similar to Belleti's last week at Boro, and similar to the majority of Gerrard's goals....perhaps many are making such a fuss about it is due to the fact it was in such a great match and one of the great North London derbys.

[louis]

bentley's was very good, but eighty percent of top flight goalkeepers would have saved it, almunia is not a good shot stopped
lampards was just absolute pure class!
bentleys maybe looked a bit better cause it dipped so much, but i agree with sam barnes, it was a hitandhope shot, lampard meant it totally

[Tricky59]

Football fan here, whose team has always been the Villa, so no partiality. Bentley's was a shot, Lampard's a cross.