C-Ron vs T-Wal: Which Goal Was Better?

By: Daryl | April 15th, 2009

You may not like his arrogance, he never tackles back and he’s not quite as pretty as he seems to think he is. But when Man Utd need a goal – as they did against Porto this evening – Cristiano Ronaldo will step up and supply one.

When Ronaldo received the ball in the 6th minute a goal didn’t really look possible from that distance. But clearly it was.

Meanwhile in London, a more easily likeable young lad scored Arsenal’s first goal with this excellent lob over the keeper:

At first watch it looks like maybe Theo Walcott’s strike has hit the keeper and bounced up, but the replay shows he deliberatly lifted it. Great setup too, Cesc Fabregas with the cute little backheel.

Which goal do you prefer? My first instinct was to bow before C-Ron. It’s a great great strike. But there’s something about the craft and deftness involved in Walcott’s goal (from the player himself and his team mates too) that makes me want to watch it again.

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Category: Champions League, World Football

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heinrich

I have seen dozens of chip every month. Messi, Henry, Rooney,... everyone can flick the ball over the keeper. I do it a lot in my game too. But, to shoot from 40 yards with a defender closing you down, it is sheer determination and insult to the goalkeeper. My God, ronaldo made it look so easy. The Keeper did not stand a chance. That is a pure insult to the keeper and opposition. And, I think only a player with Ronaldo's determination and arrogance can produce it. Hats off. Much better than the Walcotts Flick, which was expected anyways.
Juz

TW's was a sublime chip, and the kid looks as if he has a great future, but that is a weapon that should be in the arsenal of any top line striker.

Shooting from 40 yards at minute 6 of the game after only one touch? That's sheer arrogance (a quality of the very best goal scorers), and it makes Ronnie's the best goal of the pair because of it.
matt

momoney--- uh it was villareal without marcos senna. the stalwart of defensive stalwarts over the past year at least. we know you hate him. get over it.
Ian

I can't stand Ronaldo, the man, but the goal was superb. They were two very different goals, but the one that really turned my head was Ronaldo's.
MoMONEY

Umm it was Porto ladies and gentlemen...
Ak

Can we put the "doesn't turn up in the big games" thing to rest: it's a myth and it's doing my head in. Be it Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic or whoever, football is a team game and it depends on how well the other players are playing and how they are made to play.

Oh, and *that* goal was a complete fluke and he didn't mean it for shit; and I love a good technical team goal, but Ronaldo's was better.
Alex

Individual effort - Ronaldo.
Team - Arsenal & Walcott.
Jonathan

That Ronaldo. Can't do it in the big games....right?
Rob

But The Dhino floated that FK in basically?

Anyway, The Ronaldo shot looks rather impressive, but at least the defenders are making an effort on the Arsenal one.
Tyson

Walcott chipped the ball.. how much football do you Yanks get over there? Chipping the ball over the goalkeeper isn't exactly rocket science it's actually quite common.

On the other hand Ronaldo's 40 yard kick is absolutely stunning.

Some idiot above mentioned something about "power".

The goalie has so much time to react you really have to hit it quite hard and the harder you hit the ball the harder it is to control the balls trajectory. Your talking about something that verges very close to being impossible for even the best footballers.

Pulling off a shot from that distance is quite close to impossible. I haven't seen anything like that since the Ronaldinho's World Cup quarter final goal against England in 2002 which pretty much defined his career and made him a world famous name.
elle

Ronaldo's was better...but definately some props to Fabregas for that flick on
MoMONEY

First of all since when does Ronaldo always step up when his team needs it? This is one of the few times he ever has and lets remember- it was against Porto who United were lucky to beat despite being the weakest available and gifting them a goal in the first leg...

Back on subject this question is a perfect depiction of the philosophies of football. Some people like the laser beam shot, some appreciate the finesse of Walcott's goal. I personally am more of a finesse arsenal/ barca kinda guy. I fully appreciate Ronaldo's goal but lots of people can shoot hard. Not many can be part of a play like Walcott's...
matt

as a goal and not an entire move...ronaldo.
Old apple

walcott, a great play all around.
James

Definitely the walcott goal, it was something truely special. The ronaldo goal was also very good though. I like the power from ronaldo at least as well as the finish.
martin

Definitely the Ronaldo goal, it was something truely special. The Walcott goal was also very good though. I like the flick from Fabregas at least as much as the finish.
Omar

T-Wal's goal was better, no question...
Wayne Farry

C-Ron's goal was better, no question...