Often, the result of the game seems immaterial to the aesthetic beauty of curling a ball over a defensive wall and brushing the underside of the bar on its way into the back of the net.
It’s the tension before, the collective intake of breath and the moment it crosses the line.
Free-kicks are pure theatre and when they come off, it can be exhilarating.
Perhaps it is the fact that it is one player against often six men in a wall plus a keeper, and the odds that are stacked against his scoring… who knows.
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So, just about edging home was Michael Tarnat’s 35-yarder at Blackburn from the 2003/04 season, but not far behind was Elano’s incredible effort against Newcastle United and Carlos Tevez’s thunderous goal against Stoke.
Tarnat at Blackburn. Miles out. Backed him for first scorer. Kerching. Cameras pan to me & betting partner in the crowd celebrating the goal & winnings
— McfcCassy🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@McfcCassy) April 18, 2020
Honourable mentions go to Paul Power for his beauty against Ipswich, Kevin De Bruyne’s clever low shot as the wall jumped versus Cardiff City and Leroy Sane’s effort against Hoffenheim.
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Here’s a few tweets to back the above up and, at the bottom, the winning goal from Tarnat…
Elano v Newcastle defies physics.
— Bobby Land (@RobTootell) April 18, 2020
1st Tarnat v Blackburn. 2nd Tevez v Stoke 3rd Elano v Newcastle
— Daniel James Loran (@DanielLoran) April 18, 2020
But we can’t not show Elano’s thunderbolt...
Monday’s #City30 topic: best piece of skill seen.
Whether it was a trick or flick, an outrageous dummy or incredible touch - which piece of skill had you out of your seat applauding?
Share your nominations on Twitter @ManCity using the hashtag #City30.