WATCH: Substitute goalkeeper turned striker for Scottish club STUNS with 35-yard screamer

Ali Adams' goal set off a comeback draw for Arbroath against Raith Rovers.

WATCH: Substitute goalkeeper turned striker for Scottish club STUNS with 35-yard screamer

Alasdair Adams celebrates his maiden goal. (Image via AP)

Alasdair Adams recently signed for Arbroath FC, a club playing in the Scottish Championship. The 31-year-old has had only 34 appearances in his career which spanned 11 years. Mostly playing in the lower tiers of Scotland‘s football pyramid, the keeper barely got a chance. Unknown to many, he has now scored a goal that assured him a nomination for the Puskas Award. 

In the 2023/24 season, Adams had started only two matches, playing in the Scottish Challenge Cup. He didn’t get a single start in the league or the Scottish FA Cup. Used to being on the bench for a majority of his career, Arbroath manager Jim McIntyre, decided to do one of the craziest things in football history. He brought Adams in as a striker in the 58th minute.

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Trailing by 1 goal to Raith Rovers, McIntyre took the injured Aaron Steele out for the keeper. Being one of the most confusing substitutions of all time, not many were sure what Adams would bring to the table. Just 3 minutes after subbing in the keeper, Arbroath conceded yet another goal. The pressure was now on the visitors, who were 2nd bottom in the league. 

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17 minutes into his introduction, Adams performed a miracle. Finally getting an attack, the visitors found themselves with an opportunity. Unfortunately, they were getting outmanned by Rover’s defenders. In a desperate situation, Adams just took a shot from 25 yards out and managed to beat the keeper, bringing his team the first goal of their match. 

Raith Rovers bottle 2-0 lead to injury infested Arbroath 

Arbroath are infested with injuries, going with only 15 players for their match with Raith Rovers. Due to these injuries, McIntyre was forced to bring in his backup keeper to play in the outfield. And the risk gave rewards when Adams scored the screamer. 

Alasdair Adams
Alasdair Adams’s strike from 25 yards helped Arbroath come back in the match. (Image via BBC)

What followed was a fightback from Arbroath, who managed to get a penalty in the 80th minute. Leighton McIntosh equalized, completing the comeback for Arbroath. They managed to maintain the draw and left Stark’s Park with one crucial point. 

With this point, Arbroath now go 1 point behind Inverness CT. As long as Arbroath don’t finish 9th or 10th, their chances of relegating to the Scottish League One decrease. The Premier League once saw a goalkeeper playing outfield. David James played as a striker for Manchester City in the final match of 2004/05 against Middlesborough.

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