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2 April, 1986

Metgod free-kick against West Ham

On this day in 1986 Johnny Metgod scores a famous free-kick against West Ham.

Player legacies

Iconic goal, save, assist, tackle, or individual moment
John Metgod and Ruud Gullit at a Dutch training camp in October 1986.
John Metgod and Ruud Gullit at a Dutch training camp in October 1986. Image: Rob Bogaerts / Anefo, via Wikimedia Commons

Johnny Metgod gave Nottingham Forest one of their great individual goal memories with a famous free-kick against West Ham United at the City Ground.

Forest beat West Ham 2-1 in Division One, with Metgod and Brian Rice scoring for Forest, but the match is remembered above all for Metgod’s strike. From distance, he struck the free-kick with the kind of power and clean technique that made it more than just another set-piece goal.

John Metgod and Ruud Gullit at a Dutch training camp in October 1986.
John Metgod and Ruud Gullit at a Dutch training camp in October 1986. Image: Rob Bogaerts / Anefo, via Wikimedia Commons

West Ham were chasing the title, which added to the weight of the occasion. Forest were facing a strong side with serious league ambitions, and Metgod’s goal helped turn the match into a memorable home victory.

The final score was 2-1 to Forest, but the image that endured was Metgod standing over the ball and sending in a shot that became part of club folklore. Some goals outgrow the match around them, and this was one of them.

Goal Footage

Sources

The Guardian; 11v11; Transfermarkt

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
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Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
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Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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