2004年2月25日
Edu - 'It was the only place I could kick the ball'
Edu admits he might not have tried to curl home that audacious second goal at Celta Vigo last night had a team-mate been within passing range.
It was 1-1 at the Balaidos when, in the 58th minute, the Brazilian, who had already scored Arsenal's opener, collected the ball 10 yards outside the Celta area.
He weaved his way past two defenders then cut inside to beat defender Eduardo Berizzo before unleashing a superb curling shot that arced into the top corner of the net with keeper Pablo Cavallero left static.
It was pure footballing artistry from a player at the top of his game.
"I was pleased with my second goal," said Edu. "I have never scored one like that with my right foot.
"I was on the edge of the box. I looked to find someone before I shot but there was no one there to pass the ball to. So there was only one place to kick the ball."
The long-range effort was in marked contrast to his first goal on the night. That was a scuffed, scrambled effort that bounced in off the legs of Berizzo in the 16th minute.
"I did not really see the first one," said the 25-year-old. "I have not even seen it on television.
"It was a big mess. As I kicked the ball the defender came over and it went in."
That was the first of three Edu goals last night. Inbetween those strikes by the Arsenal midfielder, a Celta player with the same name nodded home the equaliser.
"Yes, he is from Brazil as well," said Arsenal's version. "We had a bit of a joke at the end because we exchanged shirts."
A case of two Edu's are better than one.
[25 February 2004]
埃杜:“当时我只能选择射门。”
埃杜表示,如果当时有队友在射门范围内,他就不会选择那脚任意球射门了。
当时阿森纳与塞尔塔维哥战成1:1平,第58分钟,在为阿森纳打入第一球后,这位巴西队员在离塞尔塔队禁区10米远出再次得球。
他先是晃过两名对方后卫,切入禁区,再次晃过塞尔塔队后卫贝里佐后射出一脚弧度美妙的球,直挂球门上角,对方门将卡瓦列罗根本没有做任何反应。
这个进球完全是一名正在最佳状态的球员个人球技的表现。
“我很高兴能打进第二球,”埃杜表示。“我从没有用右脚踢进过那样一个球。”
“当时我在禁区边上。我想传球给队友,可是没有人在传球点上。所以我只能选择射门。”
这个远距离射门与埃杜在那场比赛中的第一个进球方式完全相反。第一个进球是在16分钟时一场混战中轻触到球,打在贝里佐脚上反弹入网的。
“第一个进球我都没有看清,”这位25岁队员说到。“看电视转播我也没看清楚是怎么进的球。”
“当时一片混战。我踢出那个球时,对方后卫正好赶上来,然后那个球就进了。”
那场比赛中姓埃杜的球员打进三球,这是第一个进球。在阿森纳的埃杜的两个进球间,塞尔塔队一名也叫埃杜的球员曾打进一个扮平比分的进球。
“他也同样来自巴西,”阿森纳队的埃杜说到。“赛后我们还交换了球衣,这真是太有趣了。”
看来两个埃杜比一个更管用。