In the Socceroos’ 3-2 loss against the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup, the Socceroos’ leading scorer, Tim Cahill, scored a goal that made Australian fans very proud.
In the 20th minute of the match, Dutch striker Arjen Robben slipped one past Socceroos’ goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Following a lively opening to the match, the goal could have easily drained the spirits of the Socceroos, who were clearly brimming with belief in the opening minutes.
Instead of letting the Dutch claim the early momentum, the Socceroos struck back immediately, Tim Cahill sending home the most stunning strike of the 2014 World Cup thus far.
Responding with such pace – Cahill’s goal falling in the 21st minute following Robben’s in the 20th – clearly rattled the Dutch.
For the rest of the first half, the star-studded Oranje were unable to control the game to the degree they would have expected pre-game.
Australia carried this unexpected momentum into the second half, during which they managed to sneak into the lead following a handball and subsequent penalty.
However, the class of the Dutch proved too much for the Socceroos when the match was in the balance.
So as the reality of another premature World Cup exit settles in the minds of Australians, we can find comfort in the knowledge that the Socceroos have left their mark in Brazil, and take immense pride in moments such as Cahill’s wonder-strike.
Will Cahill’s goal go down as the strike of the tournament? Only time will tell.
SBS commentator Craig Foster was confident that it was not just the goal of this World Cup, but of many to come before, stating: “That is the goal of this tournament, and many tournaments prior!”
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
That's what I mean,melbcro implys Cahills is nowhere near the same level of goal and I wonder if it were Ronaldo or Messi that hit that strike would he be saying the same thing. Both are two of the greatest goals you'll see lets break them down and see who's was better. Execution: RVP-Perfect execution,broke free of his defenders and with left Casillas stranded with a little neck flick which gave it perfect loop,a thing of beauty. Cahill-Perfect execution,slightly cuts across the ball with a deft touch and let the ball do the work struck any harder would have sailed over the bar.Add to that its with his wrong foot Keeper position: RVP:Casillas was not in a great spot,it seems he didn't expect the ball to come in so quick and before he could position himself RVP has met it and left him stranded. Cahill:Cillessen was in a good spot in truth,was not far off his line and in line with strikes trajectory.Still had absolutely no chance. Defensive pressure: RVP:Van Persie had broken free of the defence with a brilliant run which adds to the goal in itself. Cahill:Had a defender marking him fairly closely which must make the execution of the strike difficult. Opponent: Both goals against two of the strongest footballing nations in the world. Whos was better?,im sure that debate will rage worldwide for the next few weeks.
ciudadmarron
Guest
It's certainly rubbish that it doesn't compare - it was a fantastic goal, they both were. But trying to look at it as objectively as possible, Van Persie had to do the same thing as Timmy effectively - i.e., hit a long ball first time.... except, he had to do it from further out, at full stretch, and loop it over the keeper. With his head. It was a far more difficult thing to do. Not trying to take away from Timmy's at all.
ciudadmarron
Guest
"I don't know" about that kasey....
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
rubbish.
MelbCro
Guest
Cahill's goal doesn't even compare to Van Persie's header, to me its bizzare that any one would rate Cahill's goal above it.
Kasey
Guest
^^dasilva Its a segway into that great 80s childrens TV Show from Canada..You can't do that on Television! and this is just "the introduction to the opposites!" ;-)
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Hasn't Cahill made you stupid enough pal?,give it a rest.The slo mo showed perfect technique cut across it with the outside of his foot to give spin and dip,he hit it sweet no fluke about it,the whole world has called it the goal of the world cup deal with it.
ciudadmarron
Guest
That van basten goal is my earliest football memory, holds a special place in my heart also.
dasilva
Guest
I think the Van Persie header was probably more unique as it was the equivalent of chipping the ball over the keeper with the head while spectacularly diving. Cahill, there is the Van Basten equivalent and technically Van Basten was the better goal. I can't think of a similar analogue to Van Persie's header. There have been diving headers and "chipped" headers over keeper but I don't remember a combination of both of them before. So I could see a strong argument can be made that Van Persie was better but... I'm an Aussie so Cahill is the goal of hte tournament. AFter all scoring with the feet with a volley is more beautiful than a header Also I'm wondering whether this is some sort of swapping role. Van Persie does a spectacular header while Cahill does a spectacular volley. You would think it would be the other way around?
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
I thought it was a fantastic goal, and I loved it! However, as a sheer thing-of-beauty, Van Persie's header is still the winner. I don't know if his goal is the greatest of all time, but I suspect it's one of the best headers of all time! Don't forget, it came from a 40 yard cross, at full speed, and then controlled the dive forward to lob the keeper. Magnificent!
magila cutty
Guest
Flukey in the sense that a hundred attempts would garner a single success. There's a reason you have to go back to Van Basten for its like.
Hamish Alcorn
Guest
It takes an enormous amount of skill, training and sheer self-belief to summon a 'fluke' like that one. I don't think Timmy was attempting to do anything except exactly what happened - if anything inches from where he was aiming.
Hamish Alcorn
Guest
Craig Foster I would have expected better punctuation from you. ;)
magila cutty
Guest
Yes it was a great goal but i can't be the only one who thinks it was a little flukey.
fan of the game
Guest
that goal has done more for aussie football than any other moment in our history. We have been blessed with great people and moments in oz in our game. Johnny Warren's vision and passion, Aloesie's penalty and now Cahills volley. Welcome to the ozzie hall of fame Tim. This moment will last for decades.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
This man has given me the most amazing football memories of my life.When im old and grey I might forget my own name but I wont forget that goal against Holland or the goal to give us the lead against Japan,thank you super Tim.
dasilva
Guest
Well I will agree that Tim Cahill have as much significance to Australian Football as Van Basten goal have similar significance to Dutch football. It was really was an iconic moment in our history of the game
Kasey
Guest
@dasilva: I can respect that. They both bring a massive smile to my face. The van Basten goal reminds me of the team that caused me to fall in love with football all those years ago. Timmy's goal was emblematic of demanding the world sit up and acknowledge Australia is more than just Rugby and kangaroos. We demanded to be taken seriously as a football nation this morning.Timmy's goal was the "attention getter" :)
dasilva
Guest
My bias wants me to say Cahill but it has to be Van Basten for three reason 1) Van Basten scored from a ridiculous tight angle compared to Tim Cahill. 2) Tim Cahill hit the post and didn't directly go in the net but Van Basten did go straight in 3) Van Basten volley came in the finals of the tournament and gave Holland their only major trophy. Tim Cahill was a goal in a group stage and the result of it was an honourable defeat.
Kasey
Guest
shades of my previous all-time favourite international Goal, Marco van Basten's epic volley vs the USSR in Euro 1988. I grew up watching Dutch football, but I am 100% proud to be an Aussie and so on theat basis I think the Cahill goal means more to me given we were expected to be roadkill to a rampant Dutch team with their tails up after their flogging of Spain. I'll leave it to others to debate which is 'better'