What Footballers Have Netted The Majority of Their Professional Goals in a Single Match?
“Last month, Jeremy Ngakia found the net twice for Watford against Oxford United to bring his total career goals to three from 116 senior club appearances,” asks a curious fan. “Excluding footballers who only scored one goal, is there anyone with over 100 matches achieved a greater proportion of their total goals in a one game?”
Denis Boone writes in with the story of French defender Chalmé. “Defender Chalmé appeared in 362 games during his playing days, primarily with Bordeaux and Lille,” he explains. “He netted four goals in total, with three of them coming in a solitary match. He scored all three in Lille’s victory at Ajaccio in March 2004, recording the surprising of three-goal hauls.”
Those three well-taken goals in Corsica were the sole goals he scored in 179 Lille appearances, while in 167 matches with Bordeaux, he found the net one time. Actually, twice including his own goal in the 2010 League Cup final against Marseille. Netting three-quarters of his total goals in a single match puts Chalmé ahead of Ngakia’s percentage (two-thirds), but there is a fly in the ointment.
Chalmé retired at his club in July 2014 after a temporary move at the Corsican club, who presumably recalled his short burst of form a ten years prior. He did return to the game with fifth-tier side Lège Cap-Ferret, playing seven games in six months – and scoring one goal. That would drop his ratio of goals in one match down to three-fifths, but it seems unfair to count against him for a post-career stint at semi-professional level.
A quick mention, too, for another French full-back: the legendary Thuram. Although the query relates to professional club play, many readers emailed in to point out that Thuram made 142 France appearances and netted twice in the same match – the World Cup semi-final against the Croatian team. Look, when you’re hot, you’re hot.
The Insubordination Files: Part II
In last week’s Knowledge we examined players who defied their managers’ instructions. We have additional fantastic examples, so let’s reopen the Disobedience Records for a another review.
Spurs vs City, Cup semi-final, 1955-56
“The Spurs captain, Danny Blanchflower, altered tactics to the team during the FA Cup semi-final against City while they were a goal down,” recalls John Tumbridge. “Switching Maurice Norman from defense to up front, they ultimately lost and the coach, Jimmy Anderson [no relation], dropped Blanchflower for the next match and removed him of the captaincy. Soon after Anderson was out, Nicholson took over, the captain returned and the outcome is legendary.”
England vs Albania, World Cup qualifying, 1989
Another fan notes: “Gazza scored his first England goal in this victory at the national stadium after playing ‘all over the pitch’, according to manager Bobby Robson. The post-game comments are marvellous – a great blend of frustration, sarcasm and fatherly pride.”
Everton vs Spurs, FA Cup semi-final, 1994-95
The Toffees’ most recent silverware was the 1995 FA Cup, and it wouldn’t have been possible without a key figure,” writes Jim Hearson. “Manager Joe Royle? No. Goalscorer in the final, Rideout? Close, but no. Goalkeeping colossus Southall? Nope. That man was mercurial striker Amokachi, who came on uninvited during the match with Tottenham, scoring twice to earn the Toffees a spot in the final against United.”
Recounting the story to the media, the striker said: “Rideout was injured and went down ... I just went to Willie Donachie and told him ‘The gaffer says you need me on’.” Royle was understandably furious at the time, but kinder at the final whistle: “He entered the locker room and hugged me, gave me his hand and said: ‘Well done, son, but never try that again.’”
Sporting v Barcelona, Champions League group stage, 2008
During his time with Guardiola’s Barça against Sporting Lisbon, Thierry Henry decided to change flanks. He soon netted to give Barcelona the lead at half-time. Guardiola’s reaction? He substituted Henry for disobeying orders.”
Set-Piece Specialists
“As a West Ham fan, I’m often looking back at previous years for some enjoyment,” weeps a fan. “Upon reviewing, I saw that Payet scored six free kicks in the precious year and a half that we enjoyed him. Just wondering if there is a more prolific free-kick taker in a similar time period?”
One comes to mind: Beckham netted 27 direct kicks in his time at Manchester United, including eight over several months between March and November 2000. His most prolific 18-month spell at Old Trafford covers the identical timeframe: from May 1999 to November 2000, Beckham netted ten set-pieces – including two raspers against the West Ham. Sorry, Liam.
For consolation, there’s a player currently on West Ham’s books who can better Payet’s statistics: Ward-Prowse. The dead-ball specialist had two great runs with Southampton, scoring seven free kicks between 2019-2021 across two Covid-affected seasons. He then hit another six dead-ball beauties in a 10-month spell between 2022-2023.
Historical Trivia
“A Southend-supporting friend insists the club once played a league game at Wembley? Is he having me on?” queried Stuart Jacks in 2012.
Ludicrously, he wasn’t. Southend were among two clubs – the Bees being the second – to face Clapton Orient in the third tier at the stadium back in the 1930s, owing to ground improvement work at Orient’s Lea Bridge Stadium. Their official website takes up the story:
Following a league match against Torquay United (a victory for Orient), officials from the Devon club complained about the boundary fence being too close to the pitch. League officials was requested to inspect the ground and concluded that alterations had to be made before further matches could take place; suddenly the club found themselves homeless. Hard to believe, Wembley was suggested and the O’s actually played two league games in 1930 against Brentford and Southend United, securing two victories. Even now the club is the only Football League side to have played home games at Wembley Stadium!
After that of course, Tottenham joined Orient in becoming residents at the stadium, albeit in the top flight. Lately, discussions about the Gunners renovating their stadium – and moving to the Wembley while the work is carried out – has surfaced.
Can you help?
“Aubameyang netted four times and was sent off in Gabon’s victory over the Gambia last week,” writes a reader. “Who else have been dismissed after netting a hat-trick or more?”
“During Austria’s huge win of the minnows, every outfield player who began the game scored or assisted,” asks another correspondent. “Is there another side achieved this feat?”
“Of all of the players who have a monument at their club’s stadium of their ex-team, who made the least amount of appearances for that club?” asks a fan.
“Interestingly, Jon Dahl Tomasson is the initial coach to be sacked by {Sw
