Advertisement

Watch: Jermain Defoe scores van Basten-esque golazo for Bournemouth

Jermain Defoe is not a particularly effective Premier League player anymore. But man, he can still strike a ball well. As well as the best strikers in the world. As well as – as we found out on Saturday – Dutch legend Marco van Basten.

Check out Defoe’s golazo for Bournemouth against Crystal Palace (video above). Then watch van Basten’s famous goal for the Netherlands in the Euro 1988 final:

Defoe’s goal is on the half-volley, which lowers the degree of difficulty slightly. But the angle and ball-placement are very similar. And whereas the ball comes to van Basten over his inside shoulder, it comes to Defoe over his outside shoulder.

This picture of the ball mid-flight, captured by Getty Images, is incredible too:

Jermain Defoe looped an incredible volley into the far corner for Bournemouth at Crystal Palace. (Getty)
Jermain Defoe looped an incredible volley into the far corner for Bournemouth at Crystal Palace. (Getty)

Defoe also scored Bournemouth’s first goal in a wild first half at Selhurst Park that ended 2-2. The first was aided by a sneaky set-piece routine, but also a blatantly illegal pick from Joshua King.