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Pato, Tomlinson and the fastest goals ever scored

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Pato scored for AC Milan against Barcelona after just 24 seconds
Pato...took his time (Image credit: Richard Avis)

It’s been quite a week for lightning quick goals. On Tuesday night, Alexandre Pato scored after just 24 seconds of AC Milan’s 2-2 draw at Barcelona in the Champions League, while Ben Tomlinson struck just 7 seconds into last night’s 1-1 draw between Macclesfield Town and Morcambe in League Two. Let it not be said, then, that Moss Rose is eclipsed by the Nou Camp.

However, Tomlinson’s goal was only a record-breaker from a Silkmen point of view. Indeed, it’s not even the fastest goal this year. Have a butcher’s at this goal from Michele Virgilio of Italian Eccellenza Umbria League side Narnese against Casa del Diavolo back in March, which clocked in at just 4 seconds after kick-off…

Not to be outdone, Carlos Almeida of intriguingly-named Portuguese fifth division side F.C. Oliveira do Hospital scored after just 3 seconds of his side’s April match against Arganil…

This 2009 strike from Nawaf Al Abed of Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, the opening goal (naturally) in a 4-0 win over Al Shoalah, was reckoned to have taken just 2 seconds between kick-off and onion bag. Was it really that much quicker than the two above?

This 4-second strike, from North Carolina’s Yael Averbuch against – get this – Yale, became the fastest goal in women’s college football history back in 2006,

In the same year, Marc Burrows scored after (supposedly) 2.5 seconds for Cowes Sports against Eastleigh Reserves in a Wessex League match…

Fluminese and former Lyon striker Fred registered this 3.2-second wonder, reckoned to be the fastest goal in Brazilian football history, while playing for América Mineiro against Vila Nova in the Copa São Paulo de Juniores match…

While Uruguayan player Ricardo Olivera made the Guinness Book of Records for scoring after just 2.8 seconds while playing for Rio Negro against Soriano in 1998. It was usurped by Marc Burrows’ goal in 2004 but remains the fastest goal in a professional match…

So those are the fastest goals scored in football. Tell you what – this lot makes Javier Hernández’s 36-second goal against Chelsea in March look positively tardy.