sign Roger Garcia

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

"Following Xabi Alonso's recent wonder strike against Newcastle, I was wondering whether any other player has scored from his own half twice?" asks Gary Thwaites. "If so, did they match Alonso's achievement by doing so with both feet?"

 

Step forward Alonso's fellow Spaniard Roger García, who can point to an even more incredible long-distance scoring record. During a 12-month period in 2002-03, García managed to score THREE times from inside his own half.

 

In October 2002, García - then playing for Espanyol - scored the first of his remarkable hat-trick against Recreativo Huelva. "I was at the Olympic Stadium to witness his effort," recalls James Gibson. "I was in the process of berating Roger for trying to release Savo Milosevic with a fruitless long ball when it suddenly dawned on me that he'd actually taken a pot shot at goal - and managed to lob the Recreativo keeper in the process."

Six months later, García repeated the trick during Espanyol's win at Rayo Vallecano, before rounding off his amazing treble by scoring from the centre circle for Villarreal during a Uefa Cup game against Galatasaray early in the 2003-04 season.

 

"You need to spot the keeper off his line before trying it, judge your direction and power perfectly and hope the wind is with you," explained García. "Then you must pray that it goes in because you feel stupid and people criticise you otherwise. It's a beautiful goal to score and, although it only counts the same as one which trickles in from one metre, this is the kind of thing I've dreamed of doing since I was a young boy. You grow up knowing that not many people can do it; you try it and succeed a couple of times and then it starts to feel really special."

 

However, at least Alonso can rest easy in the knowledge that García's goals all came with his left foot. A pretty poor show, we're sure you'll all agree.

 

blah

[SkippyjonJones]

Well xabi has done it twice this year ? and still has a few months to go to beat that ? plus he nearly scored against the blue s**** the same way (a save?) and the mancs (top of the roof of the net I believe).

[Gunga Din]

he should try for a header next time for the perfect hatrick

[_00_deathscar]

Well xabi has done it twice this year ? and still has a few months to go to beat that ? plus he nearly scored against the blue s**** the same way (a save?) and the mancs (top of the roof of the net I believe).

 

Don't remember the Everton one - anyone have a link?

 

The Manc one was saved (barely) by Carroll...

[jimmylibel]

Well xabi has done it twice this year ? and still has a few months to go to beat that ? plus he nearly scored against the blue s**** the same way (a save?) and the mancs (top of the roof of the net I believe).

 

Think he scored against the bitters but the ref had blown for a free against Crouch. Crouch had been challenging for the ball before it fell to Xabi.

[Guy_Incognito]

Think he scored against the bitters but the ref had blown for a free against Crouch. Crouch had been challenging for the ball before it fell to Xabi.

 

Aye. Apparently it was seeing that that made that fella decided to put a bet on him scoring from his own half that paid out against Luton.

[_00_deathscar]

Link anyone???

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

he should try for a header next time for the perfect hatrick