There cannot be many issues higher for a soccer fan than to see your aspect rating inside the first minute of a sport.
And for the reason that Premier League’s creation, we’ve got seen some very early targets.
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On this present season, it appears Brentford have discovered the knack of scoring rapidly, netting in back-to-back video games inside 25 seconds.
However they nonetheless do not make the checklist, as extremely, the targets that make the highest ten have been scored in beneath 14 seconds from the preliminary kick-off.
And these gamers will eternally be etched in top-flight historical past…
10. James Beattie (Chelsea vs Southampton, 2004/05) – 13.52 seconds
The vast majority of the targets on this checklist come from some type of defensive mistake.
Nonetheless, James Beattie’s purpose for Southampton at Stamford Bridge in opposition to Chelsea was an absolute screamer.
Instantly after the sport began, the ball dropped to the Englishman 25 yards out.
He watched it onto his foot and despatched a surprising dipping half-volley past Petr Cech.
Sadly, he later scored an personal purpose in a 2-1 defeat.
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9. Kevin Nolan (Blackburn vs Bolton, 2003/04) – 13.48 seconds
Nolan, in his prime, was an incredible goalscoring midfielder, and he confirmed his instincts right here to place Bolton into the lead at Ewood Park.
As a protracted ball was pinged into the Blackburn half, Kevin Davies managed to flick it into the field, and Nolan slammed a shot into the roof of the web past Brad Friedel.
He went on to attain one other in an exhilarating 4-3 win for the Trotters.
However that is the purpose everybody remembers, and rightly so.
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8. Chris Sutton (Everton vs Blackburn, 1994/95) – 12.94 seconds
This purpose is about as route one as you may get, and the unique SAS mixed for it.
From kick-off at Goodison Park, Blackburn launched a protracted ball as much as the sting of Everton’s field.
Chris Sutton headed it throughout for Alan Shearer.
The striker then returned the favour as he flicked the ball into the field for Sutton, who introduced it down and completed as Rovers went on to win the Premier League for the primary and solely time.
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7. Dwight Yorke (Coventry vs Aston Villa, 1995/96) – 12.16 seconds
Coventry followers have been left questioning the place on earth their left-back had gone when Dwight Yorke headed residence on this Premier League conflict.
Aston Villa began the sport and launched a ball down the best for Ian Taylor.
He raced onto it, chopped again in on his left and curled a cross into the field.
Yorke rose above everybody to energy the ball residence and for a very long time, this was the Premier League’s quickest purpose.
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6. Mark Viduka (Charlton vs Leeds, 2000/01) – 11.9 seconds
There was a time when Leeds have been one of many Premier League’s greatest groups and often competed in Europe.
And in Mark Viduka, that they had a born goalscorer, and on at the present time, he was too sharp for the Charlton defenders.
Ian Harte drilled a move up the pitch.
Alan Smith flicked it on, and Viduka completed as Leeds gained 2-1 at The Valley.
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5. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham vs Manchester United, 2017/18) – 10.54 seconds
Earlier than Eriksen performed for Manchester United, he was a key a part of Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham aspect.
The Dane is likely one of the Premier League’s most artistic gamers, and right here he popped up with a ridiculously early purpose.
Whereas Spurs performed at Wembley, Jan Vertonghen smashed a move up in the direction of Harry Kane, who flicked it on for Dele Alli.
He diverted a move into Eriksen’s path, who curled residence from ten yards to set Tottenham up for a 2-0 win.
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4. Alan Shearer (Newcastle vs Man Metropolis, 2002/03) – 10.52 seconds
From a defensive viewpoint, this may very well be the worst purpose on this checklist as a result of Man Metropolis had kick-off!
The Residents performed the ball all the way in which again to the goalkeeper, Carlo Nash, who took a heavy contact.
And as he tried to clear it to make up for his mistake, he whacked the ball straight off Shearer.
He then tapped into the empty web to ship St James’ Park wild earlier than Craig Bellamy added a second to seal a 2-0 win.
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3. Ledley King (Bradford Metropolis vs Tottenham, 2000/01) – 9.82 seconds
We are actually on the sub-ten-second mark, and this purpose by King was the quickest within the Premier League for almost 20 years.
From kick-off, Tottenham performed the ball ahead.
Bradford cleared so far as King, who was comparatively far out.
He aimed and hit a low shot that took an enormous deflection and bounced into the underside nook.
2. Philip Billing (Arsenal vs Bournemouth, 2022/23) – 9.11 seconds
That is the newest addition to this checklist and set Bournemouth off to a flier in north London in 2023.
The Cherries labored a extremely intelligent kick-off routine that set Dango Ouattara away.
His cross bobbled into the field, beating each Arsenal defender however not Billing, who tapped in from shut vary.
The Gunners would go on to win the sport 3-2 ultimately, however they have been definitely sprung into life early on.
Billing’s purpose got here extremely rapidly, nevertheless, it is nonetheless not fast sufficient to assert the primary spot on this checklist…
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1. Shane Lengthy (Watford vs Southampton, 2018/19) – 7.69 seconds
It is arduous to see how anybody will ever beat this report.
Watford began the sport, and hard-working striker Lengthy charged down Craig Cathcart’s tried clearance.
He raced by means of, brushed Cathcart off after which delicately chipped Ben Foster to jot down his identify into Premier League historical past.
The error resulting in the purpose was poor, however the end was wonderful.
Andre Grey did save Watford with an equaliser within the ninetieth minute.
Nonetheless, we doubt Lengthy is concerned about that anymore, who will most probably have his identify within the report books eternally.
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