Wow, wind can do crazy things…
like push a kick from a goalkeeper into the opposing team’s net from about 100
yards away.
That’s
what happened Wednesday night, Jan. 4, when Everton keeper Tim Howard booted
the yellow ball from just inside his penalty area. The ball soared across the
pitch, bounced about 30 feet from the Bolton goal and then took wind-assisted
flight over outreaching Wanderers goalkeeper Adam Bogdan and into the goal
during the game’s 63rd minute.
“I
think the wind is the hardest condition to play in,” Howard, an American, told
BBC Radio. “Snow, rain, sun doesn’t matter, but the wind really does play
tricks on you.”
It
was only the fourth goal by a keeper in the Premier League’s history, which
dates back to only 1992.
Those
inside Goodison Park joyfully cheered the rare achievement – Howard remained
subdued, explaining later he felt bad for Bogdan – but Everton supporters’ glee
was short lived as Bolton soon scored two goals and held on for a 2-1 victory.
Bogdan,
speaking to reporters, said he would learn from the experience.
"It
could have happened to anybody because of the conditions,” the keeper said. “It
was extremely hard to get in the right positions.”
