Midfielder Mohamad Faiz Subri yesterday said the extraordinary swerving free-kick he scored for Penang State in the Malaysian Super League was no fluke, after the goal prompted comparisons to Roberto Carlos’ thunderbolt for Brazil against France in 1997.
Footage of the the 28-year-old scoring on Tuesday from a free-kick 35m out in the 62nd minute has gone viral and made him a sensation.
Many fans on social media compared Faiz’s wonder strike with the goal by former Brazil and Real Madrid star Carlos.
“What a goal by Faiz Subri for Penang! ... like Roberto Carlos. GK did not know to come or stay,” one Twitter user posted.
Faiz’s shot swerved from left to the top right of the net after sending the hapless Pahang State goalkeeper the wrong way.
“This is no fluke goal. My coach makes me practice the kick after the usual training. I intend to score more of such goals God willing,” Faiz said.
Recalling the moments before the goal, his second in the 4-1 win over Pahang, Faiz said: “I looked for a target area, was calm and used the outer side of my right leg to fire a powerful shot at goal.”
“I am happy that I have made Malaysia proud and it is a big honor to be mentioned with the likes of legend Roberto Carlos,” he added.
Carlos scored with a notorious banana strike from a 35m free-kick with no direct sight of goal.
Faiz could now even be a contender for the coveted FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year in January next year.
“This is an award every football player longs for. I hope I will be short-listed,” he said.
Penang FA vice president Gary Nair said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng would award Faiz US$2,400 for the outstanding goal, and described it as “the most magnificent” he had seen in Malaysian football.
Lim had earlier posted on Twitter: “Definitely the best M’sian free kick goal ever n best in the world so far for 2016. Penang football team making waves.”
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