OLIĆ KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THINGS INTERESTING
With Manchester United scoring three goals in the first 41 minutes of play Wednesday night at Old Trafford, it looked like the Red Devils were headed into the Champions League semifinals without the slightest of fights from Bayern Munich. However, Bayern finally woke up in the 43′ when Ivica Olić sparked a comeback scoring on an extremely tight angle to make the game 3-1 at halftime.
Olić’s goal meant that Bayern would only need one more in the second half to progress into the next round. Things really turned the Bavarian club’s way when United young gun Rafael received his second yellow card of the game in the 50th minute giving Bayern a 40 minute power play. Arjen Robben sealed the deal with 15 minutes left as he volleyed a Franck Ribery corner from 18 yards out into the bottom corner of the net. Bayern advance to the Champions League semifinals by the ‘away goals rule’ where they will face Lyon on April 21st and 27th.
OLIĆ QUIETS DOWN THE UNITED SUPPORTERS…
…WHILE ROBBEN SHUTS THEM UP
Danijel Pranjić made a brief cameo appearance replacing Olić in the 85′ to kill time and pass the ball around.
Was just watching some of the Lyon vs. Lille match during the halftime break of the Tottenham game and it looks like Dejan Lovren might have suffered a serious knee injury. He was carried off the pitch on a stretcher so that is never good news. Lets hope it's nothing serious for him as an injury right now is not want any talented young player needs.
Only Dalmatinci will understand this.
"ti u kupe on u špade"
Dennis and Ante, you are both wrong…hahahaaha.
1) Ante is arguing "the difficulty of the goal", not taking into consideration a)quarterfinals of champs league, b)down a goal on aggreggate, c)in Old Trafford… etc etc..
in this case its Petric..
2) Fisto is taking all of the above into consideration…
in this case its Robben…
Aaaaaand when it comes to the poll.. there's always going to be a Croatian bias when comparing against a non-Croat. So, the results from the poll are unreliable.
relevance****
@Ante
What does not watching the 1st half have anything to do with Robben's goal? I'm not talking about Olic's goal.. im talking about Robben's goal. PETRIC SCORED A GREAT GOAL! But bicycle kick goals happen EVERY WEEKEND. The last time someone scored a goal like Robben was ZIDANE 8 years ago! And ur making my point for me. Zidane's goal is considered one of the GREATEST OF ALL TIME! And YOU'RE saying its a better one than that!!
"If Robben didn't score off the corner, someone else would have in the 15 minutes left. 10 men bunkering against a hungry team- c'mon!"
Why are u playing a what if game?What if Wayne Rooney scored 5 goals in the 1st half? What if God made Old Trafford flood and Noah came out with his arc? Those things didnt happen, Robben's goal did.Even more impressive that he scored against a bunkering down defense
And who said I was being PC? I'm stating my opinion. How does catching the 2nd half of the match have any revelance to Robben's goal? Or Olic's goal for that matter? IT DOESN'T! Ante, please don't become a lawler, your making Marcia Clark look like a genius, and she couldnt put away OJ!
I think I am going to vomit because I completely agree with The Fist.
Petric's kick was amazing but given the circumstances, Robben's was 'better'. Both were amazing, it's like choosing between platinum and diamond. 51-49 for Robben.
1. If we're going to be subjective about it, why bother? Why do you like this? Because I do and that's my opinion. End of conversation.
2. Thank you for being PC, but there's no need for that here on CSR. One goal is clearly better than the other: the bicycle kick. You only caught the second half of the ManU-Bayern match. To anyone that watched the entire match you would know that Olic's goal was the momentum shifter of the entire match.
Once Rafael got the red card it was inevitable that Bayern would score. If Robben didn't score off the corner, someone else would have in the 15 minutes left. 10 men bunkering against a hungry team- c'mon! Plus you're acting like it was a Champions League Final @ Old Trafford. It was only a quarterfinal game. Still lots more tournament to come. I guarantee you won't remember this game after the WC.
3. The technique can be compared to Zidane's goal but nothing else. I believe Robben's was much more difficult because the ball was at an angle and travelling much faster.
Check!
Like I said before… it is the goal of the year in MY opinion because of the totality of the situation. If you judge both goals purely on the goals themselves, they're both great goals.. The fact the Petric made the Top 10 on SC refutes your own point. Standard Liege/Hamburg is not Man U, Barca, Real, etc and yet it still made the top 10. Quality of goal and not the name of the team makes or breaks it.
Like i said before, if you compare both goals by themelves, they're both great goals. What makes Robben's the goal of the year is CHAMPIONS League (not Europa League), in Old Trafford against Man U (not Standard Liege in Belgium) down a goal on aggreggate late in the game to advance to the semifinals of the most prestigous european football competition. I AM NOT COMPARING GOAL FOR GOAL! The situation, the stage, and the pressure of the moment all must be taken into account.
This goal can be compared to Zidane's goal in the CHAMPS League final in 2002 against Bayer Leverkusen, one of the greatest goals of all time. Though Petric scored a great goal, bicycle kicks can be seen twice every weekend throughout the world.
1. The only reason that made Sportscenter is because ManU is one of 5 recognizable teams to regular American fans. If it's Man City no one cares and if it's Liverpool no one cares. United Chelsea Real Madrid Barcelona and AC Milan. That's it.
2. I'll find you five right now from the past 9 months. Let me get the video links and we can have CSR Nation vote on them.
Again, if you are watching only a highlight reel, would you still put Robben above Petric's bicycle. I think not.
@Ante
Robben's goal was #2 on Sportscenter… lets see if Petric can beat that…
Also.. I'm not talking about the calendar year.. I'm talking about for the season.. From Sept 2009 to this point, with all the things I previously mentioned.. Robben's goal is hands down the goal of the year.
re: robben's goal
i think it's premature to call it goal of the year…maybe goal of the year so far. it was a brilliant strike. perfect technique.
olic to ManCity?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1264674/Ivica-Olic-wanted-Manchester-City-Bayern-Munich-assassin-wanted-torment-United-again.html
@ Dennis,
I disagree. Sure the lure of Robben's goal will be remembered. One goal down on aggregate, away to ManU at Old Trafford, a Champions League semifinal berth on the line. It was a fine strike in a fine situation, however, no way will it be the goal of the year. We're only half way through 2010 with the World Cup still to come.
Robben's goal won't be considered top 5 by the time 2011 comes. The only reason people will talk about it is because it knocked out Manchester.
Taking away the game, the player and the situation, Petric's bicycle was a much, much tougher goal to score than Robben's. Back to the goal, call trailing away from with his far foot.
Do you not agree? Let's watch SportsCenter tonight.
@Everyone
Everyone's forgetting to mention Arjen Robben's goal was the goal of the year! When you factor in the difficulty of the goal, quarterfinals of champs league, down a goal on aggreggate,in Old Trafford, BEST GOAL OF THE YEAR.. without a doubt.
Bayern / Man U was A nail biter for sure. This probably continues to prove to all fans of the Barclays Premier League what all Tottenham fans already know (via observation of the spirited play of Corluka, Modric and Kranjcar)…Croatian Footballers are amongst the hardest working athletes anywhere. I was riveted to my Television watching Rooney lead his team. Can anyone question that he is the focal point of Man U? His departure from the game signalled the beginning of the end of their hopes for me yesterday. As for Olic, that canon blast took quite a bit of air out of Man U's sails going into the second period. What a monster! Really an exciting match. Let's see what is in store…
thanks for the comments Dinamofan.. some interesting rumors leading going into summer
ALSO DON'T BE SURPRISED IF MAN CITY PUT IN THE WORLDS STUPIDEST SIZED BID FOR FERNANDO TORRES.
I think they can be predicted really which strikers they'll go for.
CHELSEA
Pato, Sergio Aguero
MANCHESTER UNITED
Edin Dzeko, David Villa (fight with Barca and Real), Luis Fabiano
ARSENAL (Remember Wenger spends money like its his own)
Chamahk
ASTON VILLA
Robbie Keane (Everton, Sunderland), Micheal Owen
EVERTON
Mario Mandzukic (??????)
LIVERPOOL
Milan Jovanovic:), Van Der Vaart, Kenwyne Jones, Forlan
POTENTIALLY UP FOR GRABS
Anelka, Joe Cole, Pav, Gudjohnsen
I also predict Italian sides to keep taking other teams scraps.. LUKA TONI, HUNTELAAR…
MILAN/JUVE
Robinhio, Thierry Henry…
@ Denis,
Yes it was 'edge of your seat' action. I was rooting for Bayern like I do for Croatia: to an extent. Olic's goal surprised me. I couldn't believe he put that by Van der Sar. Once the red card came I knew Bayern would score one more, it was inevitable. I just didn't want to jinx anything. Bayern in the final is looking awfully promising.
Olic has scored 4 CL goals this season, and all important ones. The winners against Hapoel, Juve and ManU plus this sparker today. Impressive.
@ DF
Summer transfer window around the corner. Can't wait. What else do you have for us from England. I can't get the inside scoop like you do because FSC and other websites are limited at best.
Manchester United need to spend. Rooney is good, but Berbatov and Owen doesn't belong there. Tevez is excellant and he is the guy who Man Utd needed. Rooney and Tevez would have taken them that extra yard. I think 2nd place is the best they'll get. Ferguson has got the best out of very players like Nani and Valencia who are limited.
I can to see Dzeko landing in United in the summer.
I think Olic is one of a few of the national team players that can be happy with there season along with Corluka, Simunic, Cale, Gabric, Kranjcar, Rakitic, Jelavic, Perisic
I think Modric, Petric and Pranjic will feel they can do better. From what i seen of Pranjic there is no reason to sell. Being a bench player at Bayern is hardly the worse scenario. He's a bench player for Croatia now anyway so he doesn't need to stress himself about needing to play each week as he's not gonna shift Modric or Kranjcar so he should stick with it at Bayern. Also as shown from Leko and Pokrivac it takes a long time to fall out the national team 🙂 Tymoshuk should be the one to go. I'm sure the bids will come from Russia soon.
It appears Rakitic is staying at Schalke and that Trabzonspor want to swap Cale with the guy Kenia who Rakitic replaced. It'd be interesting to see Cale in Schalke. He could do with stepping up a level as he freezes in the national team. There's not a lot wrong with his game, but he needs to feel more like he belongs in a Croatia shirt.
For the first time ever, I was at the edge of my seat for a soccer team not named Croatia.
What a game. 5 goals. MAnU lose 3 straight, first time since the Cubs won the pennant. No British teams in the semis. Bayern or Lyon will be in the final. This is why we watch football. The best team doesnt always win.
For those of you that almost jinxed Bayern…
"Bayern will still have to score to go through. I dont see Bayern shutting out ManU at Old Trafford, with or without Rooney."
~The great Denis Svircic MARCH 30, 2010 5:53 PM
Some people forget that Manchester United is Manchester United. What happened when C Ronaldo left? Everyone predicted ManU would struggle. Better without him in my opinion. Rooney? Great player, one of the best in the world. Sure, if he didn't play today, the result might have been different. However, ManU have power and are no pushovers. Its not a fluke that ManU have only lost 6 times at Old Trafford
Is that Ferdinand huffing and puffing and throwing a tantrum at Van der Sar in the top picture? Hilarious!!