GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week

From Gylfi Sigurdsson's late winner at the Lane to Hulk's smash in Germany.

Image via sofoot.com

The Rounds of 16 for the Champions and Europa League came to a conclusion this week, with the second legs of both competitions reveling who would be among the last eight in Europe. Andrea Pirlo showed up to dispatch fellow Serie A side, Fiorentina, with a signature free kick in Florence, while Hulk scored one of the best goals of the Champions League competition, despite Zenit falling to Dortmund on aggregate. Arsenal and Chelsea were pegged for one of the matches of the EPL season on Saturday, however only the latter showed up on the pitch. Suarez and Sturridge were as lethal as ever in Wales, as Liverpool continue their title push, and Serie A’s new leading goal scorer produced a moment of individual brilliance in Turin. Eight matches to go in the Prem, and the quarterfinals in Europe are set. From Gylfi Sigurdsson saving Spurs’ season at the death to Orlando Engelaar’s goal from inside his own half, check out all the Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.

*Due to the late afternoon start of El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, highlights will not be featured in this week’s roundup.

Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)

15. Oscar Heaps More Misery on the Gunners

Date: 3/22/2014
Match: Chelsea v. Arsenal
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Stamford Bridge, London

The match was already done and dusted at this stage, but this lovely side-footed finish from Oscar is still worthy of mention. Besides, when you're playing a London and title rival in Arsenal-though we're sure the title part is over-there's no such thing as enough goals. Perfect placement from the Brazilian, as a diving Szczesny can do nothing to keep this one out of the back of the net.

14. Cruz Azul Carves Open Sporting KC in Mexico City

Date: 3/19/2014
Match: Cruz Azul v. Sporting KC
Competition: CONCACAF Champions League
Ground: Estadio Azul, Mexico City

This is a tiki-taka goal that would make Barcelona proud. Cruz Azul displays some magical one-touch passing through the midfield, with both head and foot, and the final headed through ball and finish finally puts Sporting KC out of their misery. 5-1 to the Liga MX side on the night was more than enough to see them through to the semifinals of the CONCACAF CL in April.

13. Samuel Eto'o Starts the Massacre at the Bridge

Date: 3/22/2014
Match: Chelsea v. Arsenal
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea demolished Arsenal to the tune of 6-0 on Saturday, and this opener from Samuel Eto'o shows exactly why Jose Mourinho brought the Cameroonian to London. This delightful left-footed curler from Eto'o started the rout with less than five minutes gone on the clock, and despite the striker coming off injured just minutes after his goal, he clearly set the Blues on their way. Not the celebration Arsene Wenger imagined for his 1,000th game in charge of the club.

12. Gylfi Sigurdsson Wins it at the Death at the Lane

Date: 3/23/2014
Match: Tottenham v. Southampton
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: White Hart Lane, London

It's been a roller coaster season for Spurs this campaign, but the north Londoners breathed new life into their bid for the final Champions League spot with this injury time winner courtesy of substitute, Gylfi Sigurdsson. Spurs had to rally from 2-0 down before the Iceland international struck in the 93rd to drill the winner past a helpless Boruc in goal. 3-2 to Spurs, and three massive points in the table. 

11. Daniel Strurridge's Telepathic Assist for Luis Suarez

Date: 3/22/2014
Match: Cardiff City v. Liverpool
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

At first we thought Sturridge was hitting this back heel pass blindly into the area, but the more we watch, the more we think he knew exactly who he was aiming for in Luis Suarez. And if he did know exactly what he was doing, then this has to go down as possibly the assist of the season in England. SAS have been as lethal a strike partnership as any in Europe this season, and with 47 goals between them Liverpool are firmly in the running for the title with eight matches to go.

10. Ricardo Quaresma Knocks Napoli Out of Europe

Date: 3/20/2014
Match: Napoli v. Porto
Competition: Europa League, Round of 16
Ground: Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy

Ricardo Quaresma showed on Thursday why he was once one of the most promising young talents in football. The former Portuguese international uses some fancy footwork to dance through the Napoli box, and then leaves Pepe Reina with no chance on the top-corner strike. 2-2 on the night, and 3-2 to Porto Overall, means it'll be the Dragons moving on to the last eight.

9. Everton Ribeiro Finds the Top Corner

Date: 3/20/2014
Match: Cruzeiro v. Defensor Sporting
Competition: Copa Libertadores
Ground: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

As far as perfectly placed free kicks go, well, this is up there with the best of the season. Neat bit of trickery from Cruziero to perhaps just freeze the wall and the keeper enough to allow Ribeiro to pick his spot and deliver. Even without the initial run-up we doubt the keeper was getting to this one.

8. Yaya Toure Does What he Does Best

Date: 3/22/2014
Match: Manchester City v. Fulham
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England

Someone will have to explain to us how Yaya Toure keeps scoring goals like these. He simply deads Silva's pass with one touch of his boot, opens himself up, and fires a perfectly curled strike just inches inside of the post. What is David Stockdale supposed to do there? Absolutely brilliant from the Ivorian.

7. Andrea Pirlo's Precision Placement Sees Juventus Through

Date: 3/20/2014
Match: Fiorentina v. Juventus
Competition: Europa League, Round of 16
Ground: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy

Andrea Pirlo has shown time and time again that he really is the ageless wonder. The architect of the Juventus midfield proved to be the man for the big occasion once again this week, as his perfectly placed free kick ensured Juventus would be moving on to the last eight of this season's Europa League. It will be a sad day for Juve fans, and all of football, once this man hangs up his boots.

6. Ciro Immobile's Sublime Individual Effort

Date: 3/22/2014
Match: Torino v. Livorno
Competition: Serie A
Ground: Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Torino, Italy

Serie A's leading goal scorer has been linked with a move to Juventus on more than a few occasions this season, and with displays of individual brilliance like this, it's not hard to see why. He does so well to free himself up with his first touch, and the subsequent strike after is a thing of sheer beauty. His arrowed effort with the outside of the boot proves to be an unstoppable slicing shot, as the keeper's full stretch isn't enough to keep this one out. Whether it's across town to Juve or elsewhere, surely the 24-year-old is on the move this summer.

5. Alex Tettey's Wonder Volley at Carrow Road

Date: 3/22/2014
Match: Norwich v. Sunderland
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Carrow Road, Norwich, England

Once Alex Tettey connects with this lose rebound, the only thing that's stopping his shot is the back of the net. Fabulous technique on the volley from Tettey, as his looping shot finds the corner of the goal while slicing away from the keeper. Valiant effort, but no one was stopping this one. An unbelievable goal, and three massive points for Norwich at home.

4. Josh Sheehan's Long-Range Strike in Wales

Date: 3/19/2014
Match: Cardiff City U19s v. Swansea U19s
Competition: FAW Youth Cup
Ground: Victoria Road, Port Talbot, Wales

Josh Sheehan maybe just 18 years old, but he might not score a better goal for the rest of his career. The Welshman went for the spectacular against rivals Cardiff City in the Welsh Youth Cup on Wednesday, and he executed to perfection. The keeper doesn't even make an attempt to get back, and with the placement Sheehan gets on this one, who can blame him?

3. Hulk Hammers in the Opener in Germany

Date: 3/19/2014
Match: Borussia Dortmund v. Zenit
Competition: Champions League, Round of 16
Ground: Signad Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

Despite losing the match 5-3 over the combined two legs, Zenit showed great heart in their 2-1 victory in Germany this week. This sensational individual effort from Zenit star striker, Hulk, opened the scoring on the night, and is possibly the goal of the competition so far.

2. Orlando Engelaar From Inside His Own Half

Date: 3/23/2014
Match: Melbourne Heart v. Central Coast Mariners
Competition: Australian A-League
Ground: Aami Park, Melbourne, Australia

Orlando Engelaar needed no second invitation to try his luck from just inside his own half on Sunday. The Dutchman has a look up to see the keeper way off his line, and to the delight of Heart fans, and everyone else with internet access, he decides to try his luck. The spectacular wasn't enough though, as the Mariners ended up 2-1 winners.

1. Wayne Rooney's Appeal for Goal of the Season

Date: 3/22/2014
Match: West Ham v. Manchester United
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Upton Park, London

David Beckham was among the shocked spectators for this goal of the season candidate from Wayne Rooney on Saturday. Oddly enough, this halfway lob was eerily similar to a goal Becks scored against Wimbledon in 1996, when he was thumping them in for United. Just when you think Rooney's lost some of his magic, he pops up to score a sublime goal such as this. An encouraging three points for Moyes' men as well.

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