Atlanta United Player Sneaks Behind Toronto FC Goalkeeper and Scores One of the Craziest Goals You’ve Ever Seen

Jamal Thiare scored a rare Major League Soccer goal on Saturday, netting the game-winning goal in stoppage time for Atlanta United. With the game tied, the 31-year-old surprised Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran by recovering the ball and sealing the 2-1 victory. New to the Five Stripes this season after joining from Le Havre AC in France, Thiare scored what was arguably his most memorable goal to date.

First of all, the objective:

How did it happen?

Watching the slow motion, Thiare goes to drink from Gavran’s water bottle after Atlanta’s chance to take the lead. The TFC goalkeeper did not notice the Senegalese striker who hides and starts the game from the back. It is only once the ball is on the ground that Gavran realizes that Thiare is there and by then it is too late as the ball is stolen while the goal is wide open for the finish.

Nobody saw Thiare?

At first, as the Toronto players walk away, no one looks back towards the goal. It is only when Gavran puts the ball on the field that substitute Kosi Thompson notices Thiare and starts to signal his presence to his goalkeeper but by then it is already too late. The rest of the TFC players start running towards the goal but Thiare is already putting the ball back.

Was this a gesture from the manual?

“It’s exactly how we wanted it,” Atlanta United interim manager Rob Valentino joked after the match. “I would say I’m on the younger side when it comes to training and playing, but I’ve never seen anything like this.” Although he would like to take credit for this decision, it does not appear to be a repeat change and these opportunities are too dependent on circumstances to be put into practice, which is why they are rarely seen in high-level football.

How much is Thiare’s goal worth?

Atlanta needed those three points to go 6-6-8 after a disappointing season that already saw Gonzalo Pineda get fired. The Five Stripes are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference and two points behind Nashville SC for what would be the final guaranteed spot in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.