Tennnesse High School Soccer Team Wins State Title on 54-Yard Free Kick in Overtime [Video]
By Mike Cardillo
Today is a big day in the world of soccer, as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund play for the Champions League title in London. It’s doubtful the game will have as dramatic a finish as the Tennessee boys Division II-AA final Thursday night, which was decided on a 54-yard free kick with only 54 seconds remaining in extra time.
Nashville’s Father Ryan won the game 2-1 thanks to Luke Strebel’s long free kick from inside the halfway line, which sailed over a cluster of players from both his team and the opponent, Montgomery Bell Academy. Somehow the ball landed on the front of the goal line and bounced into the net giving Strebel’s team the championship.
Strebel told the Tennessean:
"“I wasn’t even expecting it. I just kind of served it in, hoping my guys get a head on it like they always do, and just put it right in. I still don’t know how it happened. I’m in shock.”"
This kick didn’t quite have the bend of one by Beckham, nor did the announcer on the video erupt like Gus Johnson but it was certainly an interesting finish, one you won’t see all that very often, especially in a decisive state title game.
[Via The Tennessean]