Anatomy of a Goal: Kemar Roofe's Wicked Halfway Line Effort for Rangers

And they say the Europa League is boring.

Would Kemar Roofe have been able to do what he did on Thursday night away at Hamilton Academical? I think not.

But regardless of the opposition or any of the circumstances surrounding the goal, sometimes you just have sit back and marvel at the kind of ingenuity that doesn't come about all too often.

We can easily forget how good professional footballers are since they're always playing against other professional footballers, but every now and then we're reminded that special moments can occur in the blink of an eye.

Roofe's goal didn't take place in the blink of an eye though, and that's one of the reasons why it's so special.

Rangers, leading 1-0 in stoppage time against Standard Liege, yearned for some respite from their opponent's pressing, and thus utilised Roofe in the typical lone striker role where his task is simply just to harass and run down the clock.

Picking up possession and beating the first man 35 yards from his own goal, the difficulty of making a meaningful drive with the ball was exacerbated by the drenched Stade Maurice Dufrasne pitch. Sunday league stuff, really.

Roofe's motive at this point was just to keep the ball as far away from the Liege players as possible. In most cases, this involves running into a cul-de-sac and shimmying around the ball to keep others at bay, or hoofing it 50 yards towards the corner flag.

Hence why the striker's decision to fend off incoming challenges and dance his way past three defenders - notwithstanding what was to come - was a far cry from the norm. Faced with a Belgian wall and reinforcements approaching from the rear, delicate touches with both feet bought him time and space to ease the strain on his already tiring teammates.

Knocking the ball around Nicolas Gavory in what was presumed to be the final act of his plethora of evasive manoeuvres, Roofe had a rush of blood to the head. Or was it? Was it shattered legs, a lack of options to pass to, or just astonishing vision?

It would be folly to suggest anything other than the latter.

Having glided his way past four defenders, a skill that alone is worthy of high praise given the sodden pitch, to then lift his head up and see Arnaud Bodart off his line and do what he did...well, this is why we're discussing it.

He had the audacity to actually attempt the shot from his own half, but to then pull it off? Puskas Award incoming, surely.

The strike itself had wicked bend on it, a connection with the ball that if attempted 100 times over would never be struck so accurately and cleanly - the latter being somewhat ironic given the pitch and everyone and everything on it being so filthy.

As he swung at the ball with his momentum heading towards the advertising boards at pitchside, the strike flung him to the ground where he could take a deserved rest for his exploits. Having seen his 54.6-yard effort - the longest distance a goal has been scored from in Europa League history - then swerve its way over the keeper's head and nestle perfectly into the centre of the goal, he naturally jumped up to revel in the ecstasy of the moment.

Footballers do remarkable things fairly often, but when you see fellow teammates on the pitch with jaws on the floor and astounded expressions etched across their faces, you know this particular moment is unique.

Steven Gerrard said after the game it was the best goal he's seen live. Roofe said it was no different to a tap in.

I know whose side I'm on.

For more from Ross Kennerley, follow him on Twitter!