Photo: Newport County AFC

It’s rare but given the right circumstances, a goalkeeper can boot a soccer ball from outside their own goal, and knock it forward far enough that they score. It’s one of the most unusual ways to score in soccer and typically it involves a tail wind and the ball bouncing at the right moment but it has happened.

Most notably, Tim Howard scored one like that in 2012 while he was with Everton while Asmir Begovic scored within the first 13 seconds of a game in 2013. Begovic once held the Guinness World Record for the longest goal scored in soccer but on Tuesday, Begovic had to move over for Welsh keeper Tom King.

Playing for English League Two’s Newport County, King lined up for a goal kick against Cheltenham Town. Not really looking to score, King booted the ball to his attackers like usual but a gust of wind took the ball on a ride and the ball ended up in the back of the net. In true goalkeeper union tradition, King didn’t celebrate his achievement so to not humiliate his goalkeeping peer on the other side.

The goal wound up being confirmed as a new world record. Begovic’s goal had measured 91.9 meters (100.50 yards) and King’s goal measured 96.01 meters (105 yards), meaning it’s the first goal kick to result in a goal.

It’s possible for this record to be broken but it might not happen for a long time. For one thing, it’s rare for a goalkeeper to score from inside their own 18 yard box in the first place but given the record was the result of a goal kick, someone who winds up scoring off a goal kick will simply equal the record. And with only a six yard gap between that line and the goal, it’s going to be tough for a goalkeeper to replicate.

[Guinness World Records/Photo: Newport County AFC]

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.

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