Football is one of the most popular sports around the world - almost everyone has kicked a football at one time in their lives. However, for most fans, goals are what make matches memorable particularly when they are scored immediately after kick off.
TeamKenya.co.ke takes a look at some of the fastest goals scored in the history of football.
Nicklas Bendtner
The fastest goal ever scored by a player in football’s rich history was scored by Denmark and Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner. With the score leveled at 1-1, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger decided to bring in Bendtner after the gunners had won a corner.
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It only took Lord Bendtner as he is widely known by Arsenal fans a few seconds to get on the scoresheet. Bendtner netted in a fantastic header from Cesc Fabregas’ pinpoint cross, just 1.8 seconds after coming in as a substitute to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Gunners.
His goal was enough to guarantee Arsenal three points over their North London rivals.
Marc Burrows
The second fastest goal ever recorded in the history of the beautiful game was scored by Marc Burrows. Burrows, playing for Cowes Sports scored 2 seconds into the match against Eastleigh.
The English forward wasted no time after the center referee blew the whistle to signal the start of the match. Immediately after receiving a pass from his teammate, Burrow tried his luck with a long range shot which hit the back of the net leaving the goalkeeper who had got off his line in shock.
The talented footballer died in 2009 after he succumbed to cancer weeks after being diagnosed.
Nawaf Al-Abed
South Arabian winger Nawaf Al-Abed also scored one of the fastest goals in a football match. He netted a brilliant goal just 2.4 seconds after kick off to open the scoring for Al-Hilal in a match against Al-Shoalah.
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Al-Abed spotted Al-Shoalah goalkeeper out of position and tried his luck from a distance. The goalkeeper fumbled to stop the ball, but his effort paid no fruit as it rolled into the empty net. Al-Hilal went on to beat Al-Shoalah 4-0.
Jim Fryatt
Jim Fryatt is credited for scoring one of the fastest goals in the history of football. Regarded by many as one of the best strikers to ever grace the English leagues, Fryatt put Bradford FC 1-0 ahead against Tranmere Rovers 4 seconds after kick off in a Football League match played in 1964.
Rafael Leao
AC Milan forward Rafeal Leao recently got his name on the list of footballers who have scored fastest goals. The Portuguese international only took 6.2 seconds to put the Rossoneri ahead in a 2020/2021 Serie A match against Sassuolo.
Leao made an amazing run between two Sassuolo defenders before directing Hakan Calhanoglu’s lovely cross into the net. His goal was more than two seconds faster than the one scored by Paolo Poggi back in 2001 against Fiorentina.
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