Rose Lavelle, the diminutive USA midfielder, watched the last Women’s World Cup final in a pizza shop. On Sunday she scored one of the best World Cup final goals of recent years. With the score at 1-0 to the US, and the result still in question, Lavelle scored what proved to be the game-sealing goal with a marvelous effort. She meandered down the pitch and, with two Dutch defenders closing in, thumped the ball past Sari Van Veenendaal.
FOX Soccer
(@FOXSoccer)ROSE. LAVELLE. ???
A beautiful solo effort doubles the @USWNT‘s lead in the #FIFAWWC final! pic.twitter.com/ToznvQiuxb
It was a strike worthy of the setting, but how does it compare to other classic goals from World Cup finals? Here are a few other classics from down the years.
Carli Lloyd, USA. 2015 Women’s World Cup final
Lloyd scored a hat-trick as the Americans thrashed the Japanese 5-2. The pick of her three goals came from an extravagant distance. Seeing the Japanese keeper off her line, Lloyd chipped it in from the halfway line. It was little surprise when the American was named Fifa Women’s Player of the Year.
Zinedine Zidane, France. 2006 World Cup final
Not the greatest strike of all time, but an incredible display of cheek from one of the best players of all time. The French were awarded a penalty in the first 10 minutes of the final against Italy. Faced with one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Gianluigi Buffon, many would have attempted to blast the ball home. That was too crude for Zizou, who calmly chipped his penalty off the crossbar. That was as good as it got for the French: Zidane was later sent off and they lost the game … on penalties.
Carlos Alberto, Brazil. 1970 World Cup final
Considered by many as not just the best World Cup final goal, but the best goal of all time from the best team of all time. The goal ended a flowing nine-man move with Pele laying off the ball for Carlos Alberto to smash the ball home. It was the final goal in a devastating 4-1 win for the Brazilians. “Pelé and me played so often together that he knew where I was – I didn’t need to shout. He saw me coming and rolled his pass in front of me so I didn’t have to break stride. And I caught it perfectly,” he told the Guardian in 2013.
