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FOOTBALL

Podolski scores fastest Germany goal ever

Germany striker Lukas Podolski answered criticism he was underperforming on the pitch by scoring the fastest goal ever for the national football team in a friendly against Ecuador.

Podolski scores fastest Germany goal ever
Photo: DPA

Podolski smashed the back of the net after a mere nine seconds late on Wednesday in an exhibition match in Florida.

After scooping the ball off a hapless Ecuadorian defender in the first moments play, the offensive player for Arsenal in London dribbled toward the keeper and fired past him.

The second-choice German squad went on to dominate the South Americans to win 4-2.

The lighting goal silenced earlier criticism from national team manager Oliver Bierhoff, who said Podolski’s performance for Germany had “stagnated” over the past year.

The 27-year-old footballer had brushed off the comments with some annoyance before the match.

“If Mr Bierhoff sees it that way, that is his opinion, I don’t really care. We don’t have to discuss everything,” said Podolski, who has made 108 appearances for Germany.

But he made no secret of his pleasure that his nine-second goal will go down in the record books.

“My son was in the stadium and he celebrated, too. Everything else that’s brought up comes second,” Podolski said.

Head coach Joachim Löw said he was impressed by Podolski’s efforts against Ecuador.

“He put in a class performance with two goals, he ran hard and showed plenty of fighting spirit,” said Löw.

Germany now face the USA in Washington DC on Sunday, with Löw saying he was using the two-match tour to assess his squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

DPA/The Local/AFP/mry

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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