That goal? Surely not. Many forget that Maradona didn’t take one off after his dazzling heroics and choice words from the English in ‘86. In between the quarterfinal of legend against England and final against West Germany, there was a semifinal against Belgium. Sure, Belgium has scraped through twice by the very skin of their teeth and Maradona’s Argentina was Maradona’s Argentina, but one doesn’t make a World Cup semifinal entirely undeserved. (We know, England.)
Meanwhile eight years after Maradona’s Goal of the Century, Saudi Arabia’s Saeed Al-Owairan did the very same – from much deeper in the pitch. Both recreations in their own special way, both against Belgium.
Some countries just have all the bad luck.
Sometimes it’s worth reminding ourselves how Maradona got into the position that we can laugh at his every folly – and frequently: he was awfully good with that little sphere at his feet. The England goal – better, the Maradona Goal – is surely his finest, but the encore against Belgium wasn’t terribly far behind.
Of course the encore was really the encore to the encore – his first goal was phenomenal as well. But with the score 1-0, he split the defense like it wasn’t even there, burst quickly to the left and casually put it over Jean-Marie Pfaff like it was the easiest thing he’s ever done. And it might’ve been.
What I love most about this is, knowing nothing of Belgium’s tactics at the time, the complete disregard for space in the midfield so they can latch that central man onto Diego, and it didn’t matter one bit.
Most who’ve ever heard of futbol have likely heard the name of Maradona; the same cannot be said for Saeed Owairan.
Five minutes into Saudi Arabia’s final group match with Belgium – he wasn’t even warm yet – he took the ball from deep in his own half and didn’t stop running until he’d scored one of the finest goals the game has ever seen. It’d be his only World Cup goal, earning what is undoubtedly highest degree of beauty per goal in tournament history.
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