“Last month, Jeremy Ngakia scored twice for his club against Oxford to take his career goals total to three from 116 professional matches,” wonders Peter Skilton. “Not counting footballers who scored only once, is there anyone with over 100 matches achieved a greater proportion of their career goals in a single match?”
Denis Boone submits with the story of Matthieu Chalmé. “French right-back Matthieu Chalmé appeared in 362 games during his playing days, mostly for Bordeaux and Lille,” he explains. “He scored four career goals, with a hat-trick scored during a single game. He scored all three in Lille’s victory at Ajaccio in 2004, recording the most unlikely of hat-tricks.”
Those three well-taken goals in Corsica were the sole goals Chalmé managed in 179 games for Lille, while in 167 matches with Bordeaux, he scored once. Well, twice if you count his self-scored goal in the 2010 League Cup final against Olympique Marseille. Netting three-quarters of his total goals in one game puts Chalmé ahead of Ngakia’s mark (two-thirds), but there is a fly in the ointment.
Chalmé hung up his boots at Bordeaux in July 2014 after a loan spell at Ajaccio, who likely remembered his short burst of form a ten years prior. He came back to football with fifth-tier side Lège Cap-Ferret, featuring seven times in half a year – and netting once. This reduces his ratio of goals in one match down to three-fifths, but it seems unfair to count against him for a post-retirement jaunt at amateur football.
A brief note, too, for another French full-back: the legendary Thuram. While the original question concerns club careers, many readers wrote in to point out that Thuram made 142 France appearances and netted twice in the same match – the 1998 World Cup semi-final against the Croatian team. Look, when you’re hot, you’re hot.
Players Defying Managers: Continued
Previously in this series we examined players who defied their managers’ instructions. There are some more fantastic examples, so we’re revisiting the Disobedience Records for a another review.
Tottenham v Manchester City, FA Cup semi-final, 1955-56
“The Spurs captain, Blanchflower, altered tactics to the side during the cup match against Manchester City while they were a goal down,” writes a correspondent. “Switching Norman from centre-half to attack, Spurs still lost and the coach, Jimmy Anderson [not that one], dropped Blanchflower for the next match and stripped him of the armband. Within a year Anderson left, Nicholson took over, the captain returned and the outcome is legendary.”
England v Albania, World Cup qualifying, 1989
Adam Clark points out: “Gazza netted his maiden international goal in this victory at Wembley after roaming everywhere’, according to coach Robson. The post-match interview are marvellous – a wonderful mixture of frustration, sarcasm and fatherly pride.”
Everton vs Spurs, FA Cup semi-final, the 1990s
The Toffees’ most recent silverware was the 1995 FA Cup, and it couldn’t have happened without one man,” begins Jim Hearson. “Manager Joe Royle? No. Goalscorer in the final, Rideout? Almost. Goalkeeping colossus Southall? Not him. That man was unpredictable forward Amokachi, who substituted himself on during the match with Tottenham, scoring twice to secure Everton a place in the Wembley showpiece against Manchester United.”
Telling the tale to the media, the striker said: “Rideout got a knock and fell ... I just approached the assistant and said ‘The gaffer says you need me on’.” Royle was understandably furious at the moment, but more forgiving at the final whistle: “He entered the locker room and embraced me, gave me his hand and said: ‘Well done, son, but never try that again.’”
Sporting vs Barça, European match, 2008-09
During his time with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona against Sporting, Henry took it upon himself to change flanks. He quickly scored to give Barcelona the lead at the break. Guardiola’s reaction? He hooked Henry for ignoring his instructions.”
Set-Piece Specialists
“As a West Ham fan, I’m often looking back at past seasons for some enjoyment,” laments Liam Corbett. “Upon reviewing, I saw that Dimitri Payet scored six free kicks in the precious year and a half that we had him. Just wondering if there is a more productive free-kick taker in a comparable span?”
One comes to mind: David Beckham netted 27 direct kicks in his spell with United, including eight in as many months between March and November 2000. His best period at the club covers the same period: from May 1999 to November 2000, he scored 10 direct-free-kicks – including two raspers against the West Ham. Sorry, Liam.
If it helps, there’s a player now at West Ham who can better Payet’s statistics: James Ward-Prowse. The set-piece maestro had two great runs with Southampton, scoring seven free kicks between November 2019 and February 2021 across two Covid-affected seasons. He then hit another six superb free-kicks in a ten-month period between April 2022 and February 2023.
Historical Trivia
“A Southend-supporting friend claims the club once played a league game at Wembley? Is he having me on?” asked a reader in 2012.
Surprisingly, he wasn’t. Southend were among two clubs – the Bees being the second – to face Orient in Division Three (South) at Wembley back in 1930, owing to stadium renovations at their home ground. Their official website takes up the story:
After a game against Torquay (a victory for Orient), officials from the Devon club complained about the perimeter fence being too close to the pitch. The Football League was requested to inspect the ground and concluded that changes were needed before further matches could be held; abruptly the club found themselves homeless. Incredible as it seems, the national stadium was suggested and the Orient actually hosted two matches in 1930 against Brentford and Southend United, securing two victories. To this day the club is the only Football League side to have hosted matches at Wembley Stadium!
Since then of course, Spurs joined Orient in becoming residents at Wembley, albeit in the top flight. In recent weeks, discussions about the Gunners renovating their stadium – and moving to the Wembley while the construction occurs – has surfaced.
Can you help?
“Aubameyang scored four goals and was sent off in Gabon’s 4-3 win over Gambia recently,” writes a reader. “Who else have been dismissed after scoring at least three goals?”
“During Austria’s huge win of the minnows, every outfield player who started scored or assisted,” queries Paul Savage. “Has any other team managed this?”
“Of all of the players who have a monument at their club’s stadium of their former club, who played the fewest games for that club?” wonders Masai Graham.
“Remarkably, Jon Dahl Tomasson is the initial coach to be fired by {Sw
