Saudi striker scores world's fastest-ever goal

Tom Dart

Don't know about you, but I reckon the pace of the modern game just gets faster and faster. Take Nawaf Al Abed, a 21-year-old striker for Al Hilal, last Saturday. Not for Al Abed a careful, patient build-up or some cautious possession football to ease his side into their Prince Faisal bin Fahad Cup tie against Al Shoalah.

No, his team-mate touched the ball to him at kick-off, he dribbled two yards into the opposition half and launched a left-footed punt from the halfway line that soared high into the net over the goalkeeper, who retreated too slowly from the edge of his six-yard box. The goalkeeper punched his left-hand post in frustration. He'll be disappointed with that.

But we're not, because Al Abed has scored his way into the history books - and on to YouTube, with the world's fastest-ever goal. According to the Saudi football authorities it was scored after two seconds. Extensive Times Online scientific research - watching the footage five times on YouTube and timing it with the stopwatch function on an iPod Touch - suggests that it might be closer to 3 seconds than two. Either way, Al Abed wasn't wasting any time. And his side went on to win 4-0.

It makes San Marino seem like slouches. Who can forget David Gualtieri scoring after eight seconds for the minnows against England in 1993? Certainly not Stuart Pearce, who fluffed the backpass that let Gualtieri in for his piece of history. Of course, England went on to win 7-1, but it was still Graham Taylor's last match in charge of the national side.

Here's a quick list of football's hurried history-makers:

Fastest goal in a World Cup qualifying match: Davide Gualtieri in 8 seconds for San Marino v England, November, 1993

Fastest goal in a World Cup finals match: Hakan Sukur in 11 seconds for Turkey v South Korea, June, 2002

England's fastest goal: Bryan Robson in 27 seconds against France, June 1982

Fastest Champions League goal: Roy Makaay in 10 seconds for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid, March, 2007

Fastest Premier League goal: Ledley King in 10 seconds for Tottenham Hotspur against Bradford City, December, 2000

Fastest Football League goal: Jim Fryatt in 4 seconds for Bradford Park Avenue against Tranmere Rovers, April, 1964

Fastest goal in English senior football: Colin Cowperthwaite, 3.5 seconds for Barrow against Kettering Town, December, 1979

Fastest recorded FA Cup goal: Gareth Morris after four seconds for Ashton United against Skelmersdale United, September, 2001

Fastest FA Cup Final goal: Louis Saha after 25 seconds for Everton against Chelsea, May, 2009

Fastest own-goal in English football: Pat Kruse of Torquay United in 8 seconds against Cambridge United, January, 1977

Fastest recorded own-goal: Jaanis Kriska of Kuressaare in 5 seconds against Lavadia in the Estonian League in September, 2009

Comments

[Astha Mishra]

Great Goal.