Bolt Swift Off The Blocks To Score In Charity Football Match
Jamaican icon gives ex-Liverpool star the runaround in London
Usain Bolt, Jamaica’s legendary former sprinter, scored for the Rest of the World side as they saw off England in the Soccer Aid encounter at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.
The 32-year-old from Sherwood Content in the parish of Trelawny, who last year turned down signing professional terms in both Australia and Malta, proved to be a real handful for ex-Liverpool star Jamie Carragher all night.
And after football freestyler Jeremy Lynch slotted home a brace for England, Bolt – always one step ahead of Carragher – pulled back a goal on the brink of half-time.
Carragher missed a simple header, which allowed Bolt to reduce the arrears with his no nonsense well-placed left-foot finish. And the eight-time Olympic champion, wearing his infamous 9.58 number shirt that signifies his 100m world record, celebrated with his trademark ‘Lightning Bolt To Di World’ pose.
After the turnaround Bolt, who last year was on trial Down Under in the A-League with minnows Central Coast Mariners and then turned down a lucrative offer from Maltese champions Valletta, continued to use his pace and silky skills to embarrass former Liverpool icon Carragher.
But there were no more slip ups for Bolt to capitalise on and it was a stunning 84th-minute strike from reality TV star Kem Cetinay, who two years ago won ‘Love Island’, who stole the second half show. He neatly incepted a pin-point cross from French ace Eric Cantona, cut inside John Terry and brilliantly curled the ball past David Harewood to grab an amazing equaliser.
The football fundraiser in London for the Unicef children’s charity, where teams comprise celebrities and former players, was decided by spot-kicks with England – as has been traditional – losing on penalty shoot-outs.
Rest of the World keeper Nicky Byrne, the Westlife singer, made saves to deny tame efforts from body coach Joe Wicks and comedian Lee Mack. The victory meant that Bolt, who ended his dream of being a pro footballer in January, was not called upon to take a spot-kick.
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