If you were asked about what you could do in the space of 7.69 seconds, you would probably struggle to find an answer. And why wouldn’t you? The time is so miniscule that you may believe only those Rubik’s cube wizards can work their magic in that amount of time.
You’ll be surprised at how quickly something can happen in football. The Premier League is arguably the most exciting and competitive league in the world and in the space of a few seconds, a lot can happen. Today marks the three-year anniversary of Southampton striker Shane Long scoring the fastest ever goal in the top-flight against Watford.
It took the former Republic of Ireland international just 7.69 seconds to find the back of the net from kick-off against the Hornets and it summed up the fine form that the forward was in at the time. He had scored two goals in his last three performances before this game and his record-breaking strike meant he had scored in consecutive starts for the first time since May 2016. From the kick-off he quickly blocked a pass from defender Craig Cathcart and went through to chip the ball over the goalkeeper.
Below we take a look at the other quickest Premier League strikes that make up the remaining top 10.
Ledley King vs Bradford City (9.82)
King may have been a defender by nature, but he knew when to score when the moment presented itself when Tottenham Hotspur faced Bradford City at Valley Parade in 2000. This quickfire goal was his first of 10 goals in the Premier League over 268 appearances. After latching onto a headed clearance, King drove with the ball before unleashing a rifled effort that found the bottom corner.
Alan Shearer vs Manchester City (10.52)
Shearer needs no introduction as the division’s highest ever goalscorer with 260 to his name. Amongst that impressive haul there was always likely going to be one in which the Geordie superstar scored in the infancy of a match. This one came against Manchester City and still remains the fastest goal scored by a home team and quickest left-footed strike in the competition.
Christian Eriksen vs Manchester United (10.54)
It feels a long time ago now since Tottenham were playing their home matches at Wembley Stadium as their new home was being constructed and his early strike against Manchester United back in 2018 is still the quickest goal ever scored at the new Wembley. A long ball forward was flicked on by Harry Kane and United failed to clear their lines as the ball rolled into the Danish midfielder’s path for the simplest of finishes.
Mark Viduka vs Charlton Athletic (11.90)
This was a perfectly-worked goal, even if it was route one. The long ball forward and then the flick on straight into the Leeds United forward’s path, direct and efficient. It was as though it was something straight from the training pitch. Viduka remains a firm fan-favourite at Elland Road as he still remains their highest goalscorer in the Premier League.
Dwight Yorke vs Coventry City (12.16)
Back when Coventry played their trade at Highfield Road, Aston Villa came to town in 1995 and stunned the home fans into silence immediately as Dwight Yorke fired a header home just after 12 seconds. Ian Taylor was played in over the top down the right with loads of room and he floated a ball into the box which was met by Yorke. The Trinidad & Tobago striker is no stranger to being in the record books after he became the first non-English player to register a hundred goals in the Premier League.
Chris Sutton vs Everton (12.94)
In April 1995, just before Blackburn Rovers were crowned Premier League champions for the first and only time, they showed why they were the best in class by scoring quickly at Goodison Park. Everyone remembers how strong the chemistry was up top between Sutton and Shearer and with the latter already in this list for scoring, on this occasion he was the creator. From a long ball forward he did brilliantly to flick the ball on to his strike partner who made no mistake to finish from close-range.
Kevin Nolan vs Blackburn Rovers (13.48)
This was an insane start for Bolton Wanderers against rivals Blackburn at Ewood Park in 2004. Nolan’s explosive effort was excellent but he wouldn’t have scored had it not been for Kevin Davies’ determination to get his leg around his defender to pull the ball back for Nolan to rifle in the opener. It was one of five goals Bolton have scored in the opening minute of a Premier League game.
James Beattie vs Chelsea (13.52)
Beattie was one of the deadliest strikers as they came when he was at his peak and in 2004 he was handed one of the easiest chances of his career. When he was given the ball by a Chelsea player at Stamford Bridge he was still a distance away from goal but the smart footballer he was, he made sure he had enough height and power on his effort to loop the ball over the goalkeeper. The time of the goal was impressive but the strike was even better.
Asmir Begovic vs Southampton (13.64)
Yes, we have a goalkeeper in this exclusive list and it feels as though most people will remember this one. This one is from 2013 at the then-named Britannia Stadium and it’s fair to say that the windy label that Stoke is given in football played a part in Begovic’s goal. What was intended as just a standard clearance turned into much more when his opposite number Artur Boruc misjudged the bounce and he could do nothing but make the walk of shame to pick the ball out of the net.
