Memorable Football Moments of 2009: Arshavin’s Quadruple, Australia, Barça Love From an Italy Fan, Kiwi Success, Birth of the Union

We’re getting towards the end of 2009, so time to take a look back over our shoulders and bid the year a fond farewell before we say hallo to 2010. Recently I asked the many and talented bloggers of The Offside and World Cup Blog to share their favourite footballing moment from the last twelve months, and we’re sharing those memories five at a time on The Offside front page.

Read on to see Andrei Arshavin’s four goal haul, to read about a good year for both Australian and New Zealand soccer, some deserved love for Barcelona, and a brand new MLS franchise in Philadelphia.

Rob, Premier League Offside

Andrei Arshavin’s fourth against Liverpool. It wasn’t the winning goal – despite putting Arsenal 4-3 up with minutes to go, but it was such a special moment. Liverpool threw everyone forward in hope of a winner, which they needed to get back into the title race, and they got a corner. The ball is headed clear and picked up by Wallcott who races down the right, he plays a beautiful pass to Arshavin, who is at full sprint, who controls it and bangs it in with ease.

No player had scored 4 goals at Anfield since Wolves Dennis Westcott in 1946, but even more special was how good Liverpool’s defence looked last year. The match was in April, and no-one had scored at Anfield since the Merseyside derby in January. Liverpool’s defence looked mean last year. But Arshavin, who had only just signed for Arsenal, blew them away with four brilliantly taken goals. Definitely the definitive moment in last seasons title race for me, and the most obvious memory of 2009 as a neutral.

Michael Turner, Sydney FC Offside
Australia qualifying back to back World Cups, and our 2018 WC bid going so well!

Julian, Italy WorldCupBlog
Most memorable moment: Barca in general. Far and away the greatest team I’ve ever seen play. If I had to pick one match, the 6-2 demolishing of Real or the Champions League final where I thought they had no chance against Man Utd.

Craig, New Zealand WorldCupBlog

There are enough memorable moments from NZ football in 2009 to keep the average NZ fan going for many years to come:
From the U-17 Men’s team becoming the first Kiwi side to advance beyond the group stage at a FIFA World Cup tournament to Auckland FC achieving what no other side from Oceania could do before them in winning a game at the FIFA Club World Cup is has been a stellar year for New Zealand football.

But by far (and pretty predictably) the one that will last me well into my twilight years long after the other memories have faded, will be the All Whites glorious victory over Bahrain to qualify for South Africa in 2010 and the way that for one night at least, Football was New Zealand’s national sport: Looking forward to similar scenes when we defeat Italy next year at the World Cup.

Andrew, Philadelphia Union Offside
There was so much going on with the Union in 2009 as the newest MLS team prepares to play its inaugural game in March 2010, including the stadium groundbreaking, the hiring of the coaching staff, the team name and logo unveiling in the shadow of City Hall, and the anticlimactic jersey announcement (spoiled by the Twitterverse).

But the series of things that stand out most, those that give names and faces to cheer for and support, would have to be the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft, subsequent acquisition of Chris Seitz, potential signing of Danny Califf, and the “Meet the Team” event held at a popular Philadelphia pub. It is these events, moreso the last one, that have helped the fans feel connected to the team and (I hope) will help the team begin to come together and truly define what the word “team” means.

More memorable moments of 2009 here.

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Category: World Football