The editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com is looking back over
the year with our "Best of 2010" awards, running Dec. 13 through Jan. 2.
Each day we'll hand out an award from a variety of categories culled
from the storylines of Major League Soccer and the North American soccer
scene.
Today's edition relives a goal-line gaffe that made Kei Kamara a household name throughout the soccer world.
When they say that Kei Kamara’s infamous “Miss of the Century” on April 24 made the rounds of the world, they weren't kidding.
The Sporting Kansas City forward was recently watching a match back in his native Sierra Leone involving the local U-20 national team when he was randomly approached by one of the fans in attendance. The spectator pulled out his mobile phone and made Kamara watch the play again.
Nothing changed on that replay: He slides and whiffs at the ball as it bounces tantalizing along the goal line. It was Kamara’s hand that supplied the necessary nudge and the referee saw it.
WATCH: Kamara slips on goal line, handles ball
“If you look up 'Kei Kamara' on the computer, it’s the most viewed thing about me ever," Kamara said, questioning the headline attached by English daily The Sun. "But 'Miss of the Century?' I’m a forward and I’m going to miss a goal every now and then, but you don’t want to miss a goal like that.”
The play took place in the 17th minute of what turned out to be a 0-0 tie at home against the LA Galaxy. But while many have pointed to the slick conditions as a mitigating factor on the night, Kamara says that had nothing to do with it.
“I just lost focus and I take responsibility for that situation,” Kamara said. “I’ve played it over and over in my head. I thought that after it hit the post the ball was going to go in. I wanted my teammate to get the goal but then I saw the ball spinning back out. It happened so quick. I saw it last-minute and decided to slide in there and it just hit my hand.”
[inline_node:325233]The sequence was played and replayed around the globe. Kamara received calls from friends located in different parts of the world, including from China, where they saw him featured on the nightly news and in the local papers.
“How can you miss that?s,” Kamara said. “How did that happen? People keep asking all these question. It just didn’t go in.”
By comparison, very little attention was drawn to his 89th-minute equalizer on May 15 against the Chicago Fire. The play was a mirror image of the one that made the highlight reels.
WATCH: Kamara tallies vs. Chicago
It was redemption for Kamara. But the world would not forget. On Dec. 9, readers of English newspaper The Guardian ranked the miss as No. 7 in the list of most unbelievable misses of all time.
Kamara, though, has some perspective.
“It’s one of those things that made Kei Kamara a little bit famous, too,” he said.
Second place: Bill Hamid (D.C. United) and Chris Seitz (Philadelphia Union)
Both young ‘keepers paid dearly for failing to make routine clearances out of their own penalty box. Each flub resulted in a goal.
WATCH: Jaime Moreno punishes Seitz
WATCH: Guillermo Barros Schelotto scores courtesy of Hamid
Third place: Bouna Coundoul (New York Red Bulls)
A nasty spin on a ball that struck the post earns Bouna Coundoul the final spot on the podium. The first goal conceded by the Red Bulls in 2010 came on this play that was ruled an own goal against Chivas USA.
WATCH: Coundoul knocks ball into his own net
Ready to launch: MLS Matchday 2010, The new official MLS iPhone app. It's FREE! Download it here!
