I’m a couple days late on this, but decided to share it with you anyway, with a couple of reflections of course.
One thing that really stands out from the video is just how good the 2008 National Champion Terps were on set pieces.
There are four corner kick or free kick goals in the video, including No. 4, a perfectly set up short-corner play that left visiting Hartford off-balanced and confused.
No. 1 was a no-brainer: Graham Zusi’s sudden death free kick winner in the national semifinal against St. John’s. The Terps had controlled the entire game but failed to score as the Red Storm packed it in and seemingly played for penalty kicks from the midpoint of the second half. Zusi’s right-footed strike from about 25 yards out put an end to that, slicing slightly from right to left and into the top corner of the net.
One goal not included that should have been: Rodney Wallace’s game winner in overtime in the season-opener against UCLA.
Another observation of note: Four of the 10 goals were scored by players who will return to this year’s team, which is not a terrible ratio, but certainly one that belies how much talent coach Sasho Cirovski lost this offseason. With forwards Jason Herrick and Casey Townsend returning, as well as midfielders Matt Kassel, Doug Rodkey and Drew Yates, generating attacking opportunities shouldn’t be a huge problem when the Terps get going in August.
That backline could be another story.
Aaron Kraut was the 2008 men’s soccer beat writer. He can be contacted at akrautdbk@gmail.com
more about “2008 Top 10 goals video released“, posted with vodpod