Jamal Thiare scored a rare type of goal in Major League Soccer on Saturday when he quietly gave Atlanta United the winner in stoppage time. With the game tied, the 31-year-old surprised Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran to steal the ball and seal the 2-1 victory. Thiare, new to the Five Stripes this season after joining from Havre AC in France, scored arguably his most memorable goal yet.
First, the objective:
How did this happen?
Watching the replay, Thiare goes to drink from Gavran’s water bottle after Atlanta had a chance to take the lead. The TFC goalkeeper didn’t notice the Senegalese striker lurking and started the play from behind. It was only when the ball was on the ground that Gavran realised Thiare was there and by then it was too late as the ball was stolen from him with the goal wide open for the shot.
Has anyone seen Thiare?
At first, when Toronto’s players come out, no one looks toward the goal. Only when Gavran is putting the ball on the field does substitute Kosi Thompson notice Thiare and begin to alert his goalkeeper of his presence, but it was too late. The rest of the TFC players start running towards the goal but Thiare is already scoring the ball.
Was it a textbook move?
“Exactly how we wanted it,” Atlanta United interim manager Rob Valentino joked after the game. “I’d say I’m one of the youngest in terms of training and participation in football, but I’ve never seen anything like this.” Despite wanting to take credit, it doesn’t seem like it was a rehearsed decision and these opportunities are too circumstance-driven to be put into practice, which is why they are rarely seen in top-level football.
What value does Thiare’s goal have?
Atlanta primarily needed the three points to move to a 6-6-8 record as part of a disappointing season that already saw Gonzalo Pineda fired. The Five Stripes currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and two points behind Nashville SC for what would be the last guaranteed spot in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.