Goal scored by Andros Townsend against Man City (Dec 22, 2018)

About this goal

A loose header drops to Townsend at the edge of the box and he catches his volley with impeccable technique, lashing in off the crossbar from fully 30 yards.

Ratings

Aesthetically Pleasing 30/30

Volleys very rarely get better than this. Hypnotic, brutal, brilliant.

Technical Difficulty 30/30

The technique required to time the strike to perfection and get it under the crossbar is infinitely difficult, from a player notorious for long-range goals.

Uniqueness 18/20

Hit with such ferocity, it is in the very highest echelon of volleys - four goalkeepers wouldn't save it.

Importance 8/10

Put Palace on the road to a pivotal victory against City.

Standard of Opposition 10/10

Manchester City

FootballCritic Verdict

9.6

One of the all-time best volleys ever scored, at any level. Pace, accuracy, technique. It's special.

Goal video

Goal scorer

Andros Townsend

Attacking Midfielder (Centre),Attacking Midfielder (Right),Midfielder (Right),Defensive Midfielder (Right),Forward (Right)

Player Profile Page

Match page

More Great Goals of Premier League

Rank	Name	Fixture	Date
1	Thierry Henry	Arsenal 1 - 0 Man Utd	Jan 1, 1970
Henry holds off the challenge of Denis Irwin to flick the ball up for himself, spin, and launch an improbable volley over the helpless Fabien Barthez. Goal type: Special 9.9 Watch video
2	Dennis Bergkamp	Newcastle 0 - 2 Arsenal	Mar 2, 2002
Bergkamp receives the ball to feet and, in the one movement, spins round the defender, goes the other way, then finishes with the opposite foot into the corner. Goal type: Special 9.7 Watch video
3	Andros Townsend	Man City 2 - 3 Crystal Palace	Dec 22, 2018
A loose header drops to Townsend at the edge of the box and he catches his volley with impeccable technique, lashing in off the crossbar from fully 30 yards. Goal type: Volley 9.6 Watch video
4	Robin van Persie	Man Utd 3 - 0 Aston Villa	Apr 22, 2013
Van Persie connects with a raking Wayne Rooney pass with a spectacular first-time volley into the corner. Goal type: Volley 9.5 Watch video
5	Robert Pires	Aston Villa 1 - 2 Arsenal	Mar 17, 2002
Pires lobs the ball over George Boateng then flicks over the head of the towering Peter Schmeichel, leaving him grasping at air. Goal type: Special 9.4 Watch video
6	Matt Le Tissier	Southampton 2 - 1 Newcastle	Jan 1, 1970
Each touch is better than the last from Le Tissier, who juggles the ball into the penalty area, including over a defender, before dispatching into the corner. Goal type: Individual 9.4 Watch video