If anyone scores a better goal than Stephen Humphrys this season, then it’s going to have to be out of this world to deny the Hearts striker the Goal of the Season gong.
Robbie Neilson’s men were 2-1 up at home to Dundee United on Saturday, having had to come from behind to lead against ten-man Dundee United. The Jambos were down a man themselves after Josh Ginnelly’s two quickfire yellow cards for time wasting and sarcastically applauding referee Nick Walsh.
With United trying to snatch a late leveller, the ball broke to Humphrys on the edge of his own box. He held off two challenges as the Hearts bench roared at him to head for the corner and eat up more precious seconds. The Wigan loanee had other ideas though, and after spotting Mark Birighitti off his line, decided to launch the ball over him from his own half, 60 yards out, and end the game as a contest there and then.
Neilson reckons it won’t be beaten this season, and few would bet against him. Is it the best scored by a Scottish side though? Record Sport takes a look at other memorable long bangers.
Lawrence Shankland, Dundee United vs St Johnstone, 12 January 2021
Humphrys' strike will have brought back memories for two of his Hearts teammates watching on, if not quite in disbelief. Lawrence Shankland is filling in for Craig Gordon as skipper, while Zander Clark has taken the injured veteran’s spot between the sticks after a double leg break ended the Scotland No 1’s season prematurely.
Clark was celebrating Humphrys’ audacious effort. But two years ago, he was left red faced by a similar strike. And it was Shankland that caught him out. Louis Apere had given the Tangerines a home lead against St Johnstone in a Tayside derby. The Saints responded swiftly though, Guy Melamed levelling on 16 minutes before Chris Kane fired them in front.
Cue Shankland on 53 minutes. He wasn’t in his own half, but given he had a shot from just in front of the home dugout, it wasn;t exactly a tap in. With no fans in the stadium to see the goal, the silence from both benches was noticeable as they waited on the ball to drop towards goal and in, securing United a 2-2 draw.
Kemar Roofe, Standard Liege vs Rangers, 22 October 2020
Rangers kicked off their Europa League group stage campaign away in Belgium and got off to the perfect start with two goals and a clean sheet against Standard Liege. James Tavernier’s penalty inside 20 minutes gave them a lead to protect, but they did more than hang on in stoppage time.
In similar circumstances to Humphrys’ strike, Roofe picked up possession deep in his own half and used his strength to hold off a couple of challenges as he moved towards the right of the pitch. When he was on halfway, the Jamaican sent the ball sailing towards goal which caught Arnaud Bodart unawares, and he could do night to prevent the ball flying over him and in to win the game.
At 49.9 metres, it was the furthest out anyone had scored from in the Europa League’s history. Until the following week, when Omonia Nicosia’s Jordi Gomez trumped it with a 56 metre strike.
Ryan McCann, Queen of the South vs Dundee, 8 March 2008
A place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup was up for grabs as the two clubs met at Palmerston. Who else but Stephen Dobbie gave the Doonhamers the lead in the 52nd minute and forced the Dark Blues to chase the game.
With everyone up as they flooded the Queens box, including Dee keeper Craig Samson, the hosts won the ball back and Ryan McCann stepped on to the ball in roughly the left back position. Despite being 84 yards from goal, he knew exactly what he was doing, and judged his strike perfectly as it took the retreating Samson out of the game and sealed a spot in the last four.
Queens famously beat Aberdeen 4-3 in a shock semi-final upset They progressed to the final to face Rangers. They trailed 2-0 before a second half fight back drew the underdog level, only for Kris Boyd to hit the winner at Hampden.
Kieran Tierney, Celtic Reserves vs Hearts Reserves, 28 October 2014
Not in the top flight, but impressive nonetheless. Kieran Tierney was a promising Celtic youngster yet to make his top team bow almost a decade ago, and lined up alongside his Celtic development teammates for a fixture against Hearts at Cappielow.
With the Hoops leading 2-1 late on, Hearts keeper Paul Gallacher took a free-kick from inside the centre circle with most of his teammates up in attack. It broke down, and the ball fell to Tierney.
Only he will know for sure whether he was shooting or simply wellying the ball clear. Either way, Gallacher wasn't back in time, and knew he was in trouble as soon as the ball bounced away from him after arching over his head, and he could do nothing to prevent it rolling into the empty net.
Mark Oxley, Hibs vs Livingston, 9 August 2014
Goalkeepers scoring goals. You love to see it.
More often than not, when it happens, the man in the gloves has charged up for a late set piece to try and rescue a point, as we’ve seen in previous examples above. A rarer example of the genre however, is a kick from their own box embarrassing their opposite number.
That’s exactly how Mark Oxley marked his Hibs debut. Freshly relegated from the Premiership, the Hibees faced a battle with city rivals Hearts and Rangers for promotion back to the top flight. With those two laying at Ibrox the following day, it was a chance for the Easter Road side to steal a march on both ahead of the following weekend’s Edinburgh derby.
Farid El Alagui gave Hibs the lead on 16 minutes. Three minutes later, they doubled it in bizarre fashion.
Kicking from hand, Oxley launched the ball downfield and it just kept going. Bouncing in the Livingston D, it caught out Lions’ keeper Darren Jamieson, who had started to come out to claim it. By the time he realised it was bouncing over him, it was too late and 2-0 to the hosts, who hung on for the win despite Declan Gallagher pulling one back.
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