Juninho’s WUNDERGOAL Against Sedan
By: Inara | May 8th, 2008Juninho doesn’t just look like Jesus. He’s also got his divine powers. How else to explain this last minute free kick that defies the laws of physics, wins the game for Lyon, and propels the club to their first French Cup final in 33 years?
This is Juninho’s 38th free kick goal for Lyon in the six and half years he has been with the club.
I wrote up a match report for yesterday’s game, but for some reason, it got deleted off Wordpress. So until I rewrite it, just watch Juninho’s goal on repeat. It’s impossible to get tired of it.
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Well, I’m using IE and I’ve never been able to watch videos here, but I can see it now( Inara, I assume you changed something). I always wanted to ask someone what to do about it, but I thought it’s just me. Looks like lots of us have never seen any videos, but we still hadn’t said anything about it. Funny…
Posted from
United States
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Fantastic!
Posted from
United States -
If you watch 00:56 on the video you’ll see that the ball is going slightly to the right. Then it changes course completely - going left. How the hell does he do that? Seriously?
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United States -
I watched this on Setanta last night, nice goal. However, it’s the existence rather than the defiance of the laws of physics that caused that ball to knuckle as it flew almost spin-free through the sky. But I prefer your passionate reference to divinity to stupid Issac Newton any day
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United States -
mrCham, check this Wiki article on a knuckleball. I know it applies to a pitch thrown in baseball but the physics concepts are identical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knuckleball .
Posted from
United States -
Beautiful goal. Putting a knuckle on a football is a pretty impressive feat, even more so from 37 meters out, with a crowd between you and the goal. Gorgeous.
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United States -
Somehow I imagine it’s harder to apply the knuckleball with your feets. But it seems, just like you mentioned, that it shares the same physical concept. Thanks for the URL
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United States -
Greg: Thanks for the link. That’s pretty cool about the knuckle ball. Now I’m thinking that the laws of physics were written just to accommodate Juninho. No other explanation, really. He takes science to the next level.
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United States -
All the grounded scientific laws aside, did anyone else see him spot it, see that 37.5 m arrow imposed on the screen and just think to themselves “Meh, he can hit this”?
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United States -
He has scored several from farther away. Two that stick out in my mind are a 41m fk against Ajaccio and a 45m fk against Barca. His optimal range is between 30-40 meters. Any closer, and it gets difficult for him.
But I think what made this one so special is the timing of it. He hasn’t had a very good season, and in recent months, his free kicks have either been off target or hitting the woodwork. So it’s nice that he’s recovered just in the nick of time.
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United States -
Big fan of Juninho. Just love seeing him hit free-kicks, I just love that he seems to be able to pick his spot, almost like a pen.
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United Kingdom -
very fitting that it would be juninho to propel lyon to what might be a historic season (in terms of silverware of course), but then again its not over till its over.
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United States -
I just watched that free kick. Now I look like this - http://uk.gizmodo.com/bush-shock.jpg
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United States -
That’s some weird trajectory. It changes direction twice while in the air. How does he manage these insane free kicks? I’m going to have to agree with Inara, divine intervention surely. That, or he has telekinesis.
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United States -
When we were researching the ACN, I found a very interesting article on the physics of soccer balls, and how different designs affect where the ball will go. Apparently the one with the shape they used in ACN is one of the hardest for goalkeepers to predict. Not sure if that’s what they used in the Cup game. http://www.worldcupblog.org/african-cup-of-nations/its-all-about-the-bamboozling-ball.html
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United States -
When Juninho hit a free kick, I have often noticed that the ball change it direction JUST after passing the wall.
I wonder if that’s not the key of that physical effect.The way he hit the ball seems to make the trajectory normal until the ball has passed the crowd. Maybe the lack of “wind” at this point change the direction of the ball…
That remember me when I played Table Tennis. When you spin the ball, the effect begins only when the ball touch the table.In all case of spin, you need a point where something happens. With Juninho, this point always seems to be the wall.
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I just took a look at this free kick again (look at the last slow motion), and that’s right, the ball changed his trajectory two times.
The first on the wall, the second on the crowd.
Don’t you think so ?Posted from
France -
Inara, it seems Lyon is about to sign Pjanic. I just don’t know what to think about it : Ederson, Bodmer, Kallstrom, Juninho, Pjanic… Ben Arfa.
The more I look how things are going, and the more it seems that lots of changes will happen this season, and I really begin to think that this free-kick may be the last one Juninho scores for Lyon unless he scores in the 3 coming games.
Also, Ben Arfa will be pissed off if Pjanic gets to play, so I do think we will lose him.
Last year, everyone said it was a transition period for the team, but for me, the transition is more going to happen the year we will lose the Juninhodependance…Posted from
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I saw this footage in Korean football community too. All the users there were shocked and some users even said it’s more sensational than the magical free kick by Roberto Carlos against France in 1997.
A user in the community posted a online poll comparing this goal with the free kick goal by C.Ronaldo against Portsmouth on January this year.
The result? People voted 84% for Juninho and 16% for C.Ronaldo… hahaha
Posted from
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Reminds me of some of Wendel’s free kicks this season. They shot hard and the keeper doesn’t know where to go.
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France -
delado regrea para mexico por ke era el mejor en cruz azul.
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United States -
Pride of Lyon you going on my nervs, so stop talking about that damn Pjanic. Jesus
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United States -
Sidney Govou, sorry to get on your nerves, I am just curious to see what will happen soon.
I am not really a mercato person, I am way more interested in games than in transfers. It is just that Lyon’s way of playing will have to change dramatically.
I have to say I haven’t been impressed by the way the team played in the last month. They are slow, and they play too individually. I miss the team work.
I don’t think it is just Perrin’s fault. I also believe a lot of our plyers don’t think enough about the team and more about their personal success (And I am not talking about Ben Arfa).
I am a big Lyon fan, but I haven’t been excited by the link between midfield and attack recently.I have one queston for you all: what did you think of Lyon’s playstyle in the past months? (I am not talking about the results, but the style!)
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sidney govou: Too late to avoid talks of pjanic (see the most recent post). He’s coming to lyon 99%.
Pride of Lyon: Style has been pretty poor if you ask me. And you’re right, the midfield and attacking have been as connected. I’m not sure if it’s because we have different players now or because of the fact that our midfield changes every other week.
You know, I’m starting to understand why Aulas prefers to sell certain players. Malouda, Essien, Tiago, etc had gotten bored with Lyon. So better to let them go and replace them with more interested players.
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United States -
the real problem with juni’s FK’s since last year has been the umbro ball OL uses. this one was done with the new adidas ball, and if you’ve ever played with a real one (not a replica), you know what i mean.
OL should have told umbro long ago (now that we’re n°1 club in their stable) to come up with a ball that suits juni or they’re overboard.
i wonder what the puma ball that will be used L1-wide is like? it might add 2-3 years onto juni’s career!
Posted from
France
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