Goals

For every athlete, there are times when you try something that just doesn’t come off, unless you’re Neymar playing against Dijon. But for those who aren’t Neymar, it’s important to keep trying new moves, at least if you’re on the offensive end. This Florian Thauvin goal vs Caen was wonderful proof of persistence paying off as the Marseille winger ensured a 2-0 victory for his side in Ligue 1 action Friday. 

Just before the new year, Puebla announced the signing of 26-year-old Bolivia international Alejandro Chumacero from La Paz club The Strongest. At 5-4, Chumacero is as diminutive as they come in the midfield/wide areas, but his talent was enough to earn a short-lived spell at Brazilian club Sport Recife at the age of 22. 

In September, the impossibly talented French attacker Dimitri Payet proudly confirmed that he is, in fact, a massive "dickhead:" “It’s one of my specialties,” he said. “It’s a little game. When I want to piss everyone off, I do it.” 

After leading the Liga MX Femenil Apertura season with 15 goals in 14 matches, Club America striker Lucero Cuevas is picking up right where she left off in the Clausura. On Monday, America defeated Pachuca 3-2 with Cuevas scoring a brace, including the go-ahead goal in the 48th minute and what would prove to be the match-winner in the 51st.

Abdoulaye Doucouré is one cheeky fella. The Watford midfielder took advantage of some poor refereeing and some poor decision-making from the English FA to help earn his team a point with a 2-2 draw. You see, the 90th-minute Doucoure goal vs Southampton was scored with the Frenchman’s hand. 

Yes, it’s still illegal to use your hands if you’re not the goalie. And no, England hasn’t joined the rest of the civilized world by adopting VAR. So yeah, the goal stood, and Southampton is rightly livid. 

FC Porto defeated Moreirense 2-1 in the Taca de Portugal (the country’s premier knockout competition) with Mexico internationals Hector Herrera and Miguel Layun providing the goals. Porto haven’t won the Cup since 2011, but they’ll now play fierce rivals Sporting CP in a Dragões vs Leões semifinal. 

Herrera scored the game’s opening goal in the eighth minute after a fine run from Tiquinho. The midfielder applied the finish with a lovely dink over the keeper.