Source: goal.com

FIFA goal of the year – Stephanie Roche

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How many people had heard of Stephanie Roche before her wonder goal was placed on YouTube?  The incredible strike has earned her a professional contract with French side ASPTT Albi, nomination for FIFA Puskás Award for goal of the year and worldwide acclaim as the video has achieved almost 3 million hits!  She is now probably the most famous female footballer in the world – fantastic!  It is really good for the women’s game that her skill has been showcased – it isn’t just the men that can score sensational goals.

Stephanie was playing for Peamount United v Wexford Youths in Ireland before crowd of 95 people.  The goal came from a cross from the right which she took on her right foot, back to goal, onto her left foot and turning volleyed into the top corner – a fabulous strike.  Luckily the opposition manager had taken video of the game which Peamount manager Eileen Gleeson asked for after the game.  Gleeson edited the video and put the clip onto YouTube and the rest is history.

This wonderful skill has placed Stephanie in the lofty company of Manchester United’s Robin van Persie whose diving header in the Netherlands game against Spain in the World Cup is also nominated and Real Madrid’s David Rodriguez who scored a fabulous volley from outside the area when playing for Colombia against Uruguay also in the World Cup.

These three goals have been shortlisted from the original list of ten which were:

Tim Cahill – 18 June 2014, Australia v. Netherlands, 2014 FIFA World Cup™
Diego Costa – 23 November 2013, Atlético Madrid v. Getafe, Primera División (Spain)
Marco Fabian – 15 February 2014, Cruz Azul v. Puebla, 1a División 2014 Clausura (Mexico)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 19 October 2013, Paris St. Germain v. SC Bastia, Ligue 1 (France)
Pajtim Kasami – 21 October 2013, Crystal Palace v. Fulham, Premier League (England)
Stephanie Roche -20 October 2013, Peamount United v. Wexford Youths, BEWNL (Rep.Ireland)
James Rodriguez – 28 June 2014 – Colombia v. Uruguay,  2014 FIFA World Cup™
Camilo Sanvezzo – 6 October 2013 – Vancouver Whitecaps v. Portland Timbers, MLS (USA/Canada)
Hisato Sato – 8 March 2014 – Sanfrecce Hiroshima v. Kawasaki Frontale, J.League (Japan)
Robin van Persie – 13 June 2014 – Spain v. Netherlands, 2014 FIFA World Cup™

The winner will be revealed on the day of the FIFA Ballon d’Or on 12 January 2015.

You can see Stephanie’s goal here.