Goalkeepers rarely score goals because they hardly leave their box to move up field. However, there are instances where goals have been scored unexpectedly by goalkeepers.
There tends to be two types of goalkeeper goals. The first one is when a ‘keeper goes up late for a set-piece when their team in seriously in need of a goal. The second one is when they don’t actually mean to score. They simply clear the ball or take a free kick and it ends at the back of the net. Goalkeepers have scored five times in the Premier League history.
Peter Schmeichel (Aston Villa) v Everton
On October 2001, Peter Schmeichel became the first goalkeeper to score a Premier League goal. Schmeichel scored in 90th minute as his team (Aston Villa) lost 3-2 to Everton.
The Dane slammed home a volley at the back post to strike the ninth goal of his career. Schmeichel had previously scored 2 goals for Brondby and 6 for Hvidovre.
While at Manchester United in 1995, he also scored for the Red Devils against Rotor Volgograd in the UEFA Super Cup.
Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers) v Charlton Athletic
Brad Friedel scored one goal in his football career. The goal came against Blackburn Rovers on 21st February, 2004.
Friedel thought he had earned a point for Blackburn by making it 2-2 with a close range tap-in in stoppage time.
However, Charlton Athletic midfielder Claus Jensen stuck moments later leaving Friedel on the ground with his hands on his head.
Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspurs) v Watford
Paul Robinson became the third goalkeeper to score a Premier League goal on 17th March 2007.
Robinson took a free-kick for Spurs and watched on as the ball bounced over Watford keeper Ben Foster into the back of the net.
Spurs went on to win the game 2-1 at full time.
Tim Howard (Everton) v Bolton Wanderers
Tim Howard scored from his area when the ball bounced 30 yards from Bolton’s goal and, with the help of the wind, flew over visiting keeper Adam Bogdan. This happened in January 4, 2012.
The American’s goal was not enough to earn Everton a win as David Ngog and Gary Cahill struck to help Bolton recover and win the game 2-1.
Despite the goal being the first and only goal in his career, Howard refused to celebrate the goal and immediately felt sorry for his Bolton counterpart.
‘’I’m disappointed from a goalkeepers standpoint and you never want to see that happen,’’ He said to reporters after the game.
‘’It’s ugly, not very nice and can be embarrassing.’’
Asmir Begovic (Stoke City) v Southampton
Asmir Begovic’s goal v Southampton on November 2, 2013 remains to be a remarkable goal in the Premier League history.
The goal remains to be the longest goal ever scored in a competitive soccer match.
Begovic was just outside his box when he kicked the ball downfield. The distance was 91.9 metres, which earned the Bosnian a place in the record books.
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