Momoko Tanikawa Stuns With a Screamer From Near the Center Circle — Even German Media Left in Shock

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The story

Momoko Tanikawa of Bayern Munich Women scored in the 18th minute of Matchday 3 of the Frauen-Bundesliga against Freiburg, burying a long-range strike from near the center circle in the opposition’s half after spotting the goalkeeper off her line. Bayern Women won the match 4-1, extending their perfect start to three wins from three, and German media reported the goal with astonishment. Reactions on 5channel were largely full of praise for Tanikawa’s decision-making in going for the long-range effort, while also sparking a lively debate comparing goalkeeper positioning and individual differences in kicking power in women’s soccer.

German media reportedly couldn’t hide their astonishment at the golazo scored by Nadeshiko Japan midfielder Momoko Tanikawa.

Bayern Women, featuring Tanikawa, hosted Freiburg at home in Matchday 3 of the Frauen-Bundesliga and cruised to a 4-1 win, securing three straight victories to open the season.

Tanikawa put on a dominant performance in this match. In the 18th minute, she won the ball near the center circle in the opposing half and didn’t miss the fact that the opposing keeper had stepped off her line. Without a moment’s hesitation, she unleashed her right foot — the towering long-range shot sailed into the empty net for a spectacular opening goal.

Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

What people said

4AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:20
Damn TV Tokyo deliberately pulled down the goal footage from the Brazil match once, didn't they?
Seriously gross.
5AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:20
Didn't Kubo score an insane long-range shot like this a while back too?
6AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:22
The level of women's soccer is getting scary.
Scary, just scary.
7AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:22
When you get shot on like that in women's soccer, there's nothing a keeper can do about it.
8AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:23
This girl just thinks differently from normal players.
She's probably always looking to shoot on goal.
9AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:24
Re: #8
I think her dad or someone told her to always shoot no matter how far out she is.
10AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:24
Meanwhile, over at Bayern Munich Men's, Ito has been frozen out of the squad plans.
18AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:27
Re: #10
Didn't the sporting director and Kompany both deny that? They didn't say he's a guaranteed starter, but they said he's in the squad and there were no plans to sell him.
11AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:25
In women's soccer, Tanikawa's kicking power is just broken compared to everyone else.
29AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:33
Re: #11
Utsuki, who used to play, had even more kicking power than that.
16AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:26
Shots like this are considered bad manners overseas, you know.
36AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:38
Is a long-range shot literally the only trick this player has?
38AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:39
Re: #36
At the very least, she's way better than you, lol lol.
39AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:39
If there were data on the total distance of every goal she's scored, she'd probably rank #1 even counting men's soccer.
68AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:01
Re: #39
In terms of single-shot distance, there have been a few keepers who scored directly off a punt kick.
41AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:40
Somebody get Kubo-kun to have her teach him how to shoot.
46AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:43
Re: #41
Kubo's a "connector" type (a player who links up play rather than shoots), so he's not even looking to shoot in the first place.
43AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:42
But Nadeshiko Japan would lose 30-0 to a junior high team from Shizuoka, right? (lol)
45AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:42
Re: #43
But she's still better than you.
50AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:45
Re: #43
You'd get crushed even playing against elementary schoolers.
47AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:43
She's scored long-range goals like this many times before — keepers underestimate her, assuming a shot from that far won't reach because it's women's soccer, so they step up too far.
53AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:46
Re: #47
I mean, regardless of men's or women's soccer, isn't it just normal in the modern game for keepers to step up and cover the space in front of them?
55AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:49
Guess Bayern Women are strong too, huh.
56AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:53
Re: #55
Well, basically team strength is proportional to financial power.
79AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:21
Re: #55
Bayern Women extended their unbeaten league run to 45 matches, setting a new Frauen-Bundesliga record.
ttps://www.allfootballapp.com/ja/articles/5266486-45

Wolfsburg used to be strong at the European level too, but lately Bayern is just dominant.
57AnonymousSep 8, 2026 20:55
The position with the biggest gap between men's and women's soccer is goalkeeper.
A shot like this wouldn't go in against a men's keeper.
65AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:00
Re: #57
This is women's soccer, so that's irrelevant here.
70AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:08
Roberto Hongo (a mentor character from the soccer anime/manga Captain Tsubasa) always said, "If you can see the goal, shoot right away."
71AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:10
Re: #70
In that world, the goal is literally beyond the horizon, after all.
72AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:11
Wait, there's a Japanese player at Bayern right now? And a woman? What's going on?
73AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:12
Re: #72
If you don't know, don't force yourself into the thread, old man.
75AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:15
The level at the U-20 Women's World Cup currently being held in Poland has really shot up too.
Check out the Canada vs. England match in Group B, the "group of death."
The speed is on a completely different level from a few years ago — hard to believe this is U-20 women's soccer.
78AnonymousSep 8, 2026 21:20
Re: #75
Japan barely beat New Zealand after getting a penalty right at the end of the second half, so I can't expect much at all.

Background and Talking Points

Bayern Women, Tanikawa’s club, are off to a hot start with three straight wins to open the Bundesliga season, and as mentioned in post 79, they’re a powerhouse currently extending their unbeaten league streak. This long-range goal was a deliberate strike made after spotting the keeper’s positioning, and discussion in the thread centered mainly on praise for her judgment in “shooting before the keeper can get back to the ball.” At the same time, comparisons came up regarding goalkeeper positioning and reach in women’s soccer, but that’s a tactical topic rooted in physical differences between men’s and women’s soccer, not a knock on Tanikawa’s individual skill. Her “shoot the moment you see it” playing style isn’t new this season either — she’s scored similar long-range goals before, and that’s background that doesn’t come through in the article alone: this is shaping up to be a signature move of hers, not a one-off stroke of luck.

*This article is compiled as an excerpt/summary from the 5channel (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “[Soccer] German Media Stunned by Bayern’s Momoko Tanikawa’s “Super Long-Range Bomb”! “A Dream Goal From the Center Line”.”

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