Maybe the Colorado Rapids saw something in Mor Diouf that others overlooked.
The Senegalese defender scored a sure-fire Goal of the Year contender on Sunday. A video clip of his long-distance strike has gone viral, bringing him widespread fame.
Some estimate that his shot was taken from 80 yards away from the opponent’s goal. That in itself would be some feat, but the context in which he scored make the goal even more special.
Diouf’s heroics came in the 88th minute of a scoreless (South African) Premier Soccer League game between SuperSport United and Memlodi Sundowns. The score was tied at 0-0 when the 24-year-old recovered a loose ball, took a few steps forward, noticed the goalkeeper was off his line and shot. The ball sailed into the net to win the Pretoria (South Africa) derby.
Diouf was reportedly one of the Rapids’ main transfer targets last summer — certainly for his ability to defend rather than attack — but the MLS club was unable to strike a deal with his former team. He moved to SuperSport instead, where he has become a local hero … and even more expensive.
See Diouf’s long-distance winner in the video below.
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