Olympia: The most beautiful goals in women’s football

Last Saturday, the Olympic women’s football tournament came to an end with the medal ceremony. In addition to the Canadian espionage scandal, Marta’s red card and many exciting encounters, the outstanding goals will probably be remembered above all. We have selected the most beautiful goals of the tournament for you:

In the first game of the tournament, Japan’s Aoba Fujino was an absolute eye-catcher: from a half-right position, the Japanese player took aim and slammed the free kick into the crossbar. Spain’s goalkeeper Cata Coll stretched in vain, the shot was unstoppable.

Set up by football legend Marta, Gabi Nunes didn’t hesitate for long in the first group match against Nigeria and shot from a tight angle. The ball hit the near post with power – too fast for the Nigerian goalkeeper’s reflexes. It was also the only goal of the match and secured Brazil three important points on the way to the final.

The exceptional Japanese talent Momoko Tanikawa secured Japan’s late victory over Brazil with her dream goal in the 96th minute. The 19-year-old noticed a good 25 meters from the opponent’s goal that the Seleção goalkeeper was standing too far in front of her goal and took heart. The ball fell safely behind the line. This will particularly please the fans and officials of FC Bayern Munich: In the winter, the reigning champions secured the services of the Japanese player, who will be coming to the Isar this summer.

When Alexia Putellas was on the field, the Spanish team’s game became more and more dangerous. Nigeria also felt this: In the 85th minute, the former world footballer took a free kick from a sharp left angle and fired it into the far corner. Nigerian goalkeeper Nnadozie could stretch as much as she wanted, but the ball hit the top left corner. Putellas’ dream goal secured the Iberians a late victory.

The qualities of Zambia’s Barbra Banda have long been known in women’s football. In the second group match against Australia, the captain made her mark after just 40 seconds: Banda got the ball more than 25 meters from the goal, didn’t hesitate and flicked the ball into the top left corner – the Australian goalkeeper had no chance. In the first half, Barba Banda scored a flawless hat trick. Despite the many goals, Zambia lost the match against Australia 5:6.

It is well known that Japan has a lot of precision and quality in its own ranks. This impression was confirmed in the last group match against Nigeria. Another free kick, another dream goal, only this time a different scorer: Hikaru Kitagawa curled the free kick from a half-right position over the wall with great feeling into the top right corner. You can’t take a free kick any better than that.

The DFB women had not scored any dream goals in the tournament up to this point, but that was about to change thanks to Elisa Senß. Just a few minutes after being substituted in the last group match against Zambia, the future Frankfurt player was waiting for her chance at a corner. When the ball slipped through to her, Senß was quick to think, took the ball on the volley and put the ball into the net for the final score of 4:1.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto is particularly feared for her goal-scoring ability on the French hosts. But in the match against Colombia, another player attracted attention with a spectacular goal – Kenza Dali. The French player took advantage of a rebound from the goalkeeper on the edge of the penalty area and welded the ball into the net with the help of the crossbar.

The eventual Olympic champions had a hard time against Australia for a long time. It took until the 77th minute for Korbin Albert to put the lid on it – and how. The controversial USA midfielder sensed her chance after a defensive error and shot from distance. The sharp shot hit the left corner. It was Albert’s first goal in the US national team jersey – what a debut.