Hong Kong 'Ronaldinho' Li has no plans to seek greener pastures abroad
Thursday, July 26, 2007
HIS wonder-goal against Liverpool drew comparisons with Ronaldinho, but Li Haiqiang is not packing his bags just yet.
The South China captain said he had no plans to seek a move abroad after stunning the Premier League giants with a 40-yard free-kick in the 3-1 Asia Trophy loss here.
"I'm not thinking about that for the moment," said the modest Li as he was mobbed by local media.
The set-piece specialist looked set to cross when he lined up his shot near the right touchline. But he hammered it straight at goal instead, flummoxing England hopeful Scott Carson who could only palm the ball into the net.
The scene evoked memories of Ronaldinho's 2002 World Cup goal against England, when the Brazilian embarrassed David Seaman from a similar position.
"I have to admit it was a bit lucky," said Li, who sports a sensible short haircut rather than Ronaldinho's flamboyant braids.
"I didn't think about whether it would go in or not before the shot because if you think about that, it definitely won't go in."
Amazingly, the 30-year-old said he has scored from similar distances before. But he rated Tuesday's strike as his "perfect" goal, coming against Liverpool and in the full glare of international media.
"I've scored a lot of free-kicks and penalties for South China but I'd say this goal was 100 per cent perfect because it was against Liverpool," he said.
"I've scored from that distance before, that's why I decided to shoot rather than cross."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez tipped Carson to recover from the "strange" goal which apparently took him completely by surprise.
"Their goal was strange, Scott Carson was not expecting it, a shot from so far out that hard. It was a surprise, and I am sure he will be disappointed with that," Benitez said.
"As a 'keeper, when you concede any goal you are disappointed, but particularly when it is that kind of goal.
"I am sure he will bounce back from that, it is just one mistake, nothing important," he added.
Li had earlier warmed Carson's hands from closer in as South China threatened the under-strength Champions League finalists missing Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Ryan Babble.
He hailed a battling performance by the Hong Kong FA Cup holders against the 18-time English champions.
"Even though we were playing against giants like Liverpool we didn't back down and we tried our best," he said.
"I'm not disappointed Gerrard, Torres and Babel weren't playing because I think there were still many stars in the team and the competition we faced was fierce enough," he added.
South China will face Fulham on Friday in the match for third place while Liverpool play Portsmouth in the final.
AFP
The South China captain said he had no plans to seek a move abroad after stunning the Premier League giants with a 40-yard free-kick in the 3-1 Asia Trophy loss here.
"I'm not thinking about that for the moment," said the modest Li as he was mobbed by local media.
The set-piece specialist looked set to cross when he lined up his shot near the right touchline. But he hammered it straight at goal instead, flummoxing England hopeful Scott Carson who could only palm the ball into the net.
The scene evoked memories of Ronaldinho's 2002 World Cup goal against England, when the Brazilian embarrassed David Seaman from a similar position.
"I have to admit it was a bit lucky," said Li, who sports a sensible short haircut rather than Ronaldinho's flamboyant braids.
"I didn't think about whether it would go in or not before the shot because if you think about that, it definitely won't go in."
Amazingly, the 30-year-old said he has scored from similar distances before. But he rated Tuesday's strike as his "perfect" goal, coming against Liverpool and in the full glare of international media.
"I've scored a lot of free-kicks and penalties for South China but I'd say this goal was 100 per cent perfect because it was against Liverpool," he said.
"I've scored from that distance before, that's why I decided to shoot rather than cross."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez tipped Carson to recover from the "strange" goal which apparently took him completely by surprise.
"Their goal was strange, Scott Carson was not expecting it, a shot from so far out that hard. It was a surprise, and I am sure he will be disappointed with that," Benitez said.
"As a 'keeper, when you concede any goal you are disappointed, but particularly when it is that kind of goal.
"I am sure he will bounce back from that, it is just one mistake, nothing important," he added.
Li had earlier warmed Carson's hands from closer in as South China threatened the under-strength Champions League finalists missing Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Ryan Babble.
He hailed a battling performance by the Hong Kong FA Cup holders against the 18-time English champions.
"Even though we were playing against giants like Liverpool we didn't back down and we tried our best," he said.
"I'm not disappointed Gerrard, Torres and Babel weren't playing because I think there were still many stars in the team and the competition we faced was fierce enough," he added.
South China will face Fulham on Friday in the match for third place while Liverpool play Portsmouth in the final.
AFP
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