By Doug McIntyre
FOX Sports activities Soccer Author
Editor’s be aware: Every day between now and the kickoff of the primary match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 20, we’ll unveil a unique reminiscence from World Cup historical past. The countdown from 101 continues with Maxi Rodríguez’s surprise strike vs. Mexico.
Upon taking a 1-0 lead over two-time World Cup champ Argentina on Rafael Marquez’s objective simply 5 minutes into their spherical of 16 match at Germany 2006, Mexican followers might be forgiven for pondering that perhaps this was the 12 months their group would advance to the quarterfinals for the primary time away from house soil.
And though Hernan Crespo equalized for the Albiceleste virtually instantly, the lofty hopes of El Tri’s supporters remained intact because the match entered further time. If Mexico might merely maintain on for the subsequent half-hour, they’d be the crap-shoot of penalty kicks away from a spot within the remaining eight.
Maxi Rodriguez had different concepts. Stationed on the precise aspect of Mexico’s 18-yard field midway by way of the primary further 15-minute interval, the Argentine winger caught a pinpoint diagonal move from left again Juan Pablo Sorin on his chest. El Tri defender Gonzalo Pineda was to his proper, so Rodriguez directed the ball towards his weaker left foot.
With out letting it hit the bottom, he then volleyed a curling shot previous the outstretched glove of goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and into the aspect netting. The supernaturally lovely strike was sufficient to ship Argentina into the final eight and relegate Mexico to its fourth consecutive knockout spherical defeat. To no one’s shock, it was additionally named the objective of the event.
Maxi’s magical volley
Maxi Rodríguez of Argentina put in a surprise objective off a volley to defeat Mexico.
One of many main soccer journalists in North America, Doug McIntyre has lined United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, he was a employees author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities. Observe him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.
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