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Football

12th Jun 2017

One of the best goals of the year was scored in USA versus Mexico World Cup qualifier

Wow

Robert Redmond

What a goal.

The United States and Mexico played a World Cup qualifier in Mexico City on Sunday night, and the 81,000 in the Estadio Azteca were briefly silenced by an American wondergoal.

After six minutes, US captain Michael Bradley intercepted a loose pass in midfield and found himself in a potential three on one situation, with two American forwards bursting forward and the Mexican defence on the backfoot.

However, rather continue his run or play in one of his teammates, the Toronto FC midfielder went for an audacious chip over Guillermo Ochoa from 40 yards.

The Mexican goalkeeper was some way off his goal line, but surely didn’t expect this to happen:

Mexico had won 23 of their previous 26 home games against the US, with the Americans’ only victory coming in a 2012 friendly. So it was probably always going to take more than a wondergoal for the USA to win this one.

Carlos Vela, the former Arsenal striker, got Mexico’s equaliser and the game finished 1-1, leaving the home side four points clear of their rivals in the final stage of World Cup qualifying.

Vela’s goal was a decent finish, but it doesn’t have a patch on Bradley’s effort.