The Beach Ball Goal at Sunderland

Football has produced plenty of unusual goals, but few involve a second ball that was never meant to be on the pitch. In October 2009, Sunderland faced Liverpool at the Stadium of Light when a red beach ball, thrown from the crowd, found its way into the Liverpool penalty area. Darren Bent's shot struck the beach ball and changed direction before entering the net. The goal stood, although the laws meant play should have been stopped because an outside object interfered. Sunderland won 1–0, and the incident became an instant football curiosity. Supporters debated the decision for years, while the image of the stray beach ball became almost as famous as the match itself. Sometimes the strangest deflection comes from something that should not be there at all.