The shot seemed entirely innocuous, a boot from 35 metres or so out that looked like one of those “well, let’s see what might happen here” moments that pop up in soccer games all the time.
But when the ball leaves the foot of Sebastian Giovinco magic sometimes happens, and it did again on Sunday night.
Giovinco’s shot glanced off the back of teammate Tsubasa Endoh — hardly a move that could be called a deflection because it looked more like a moment of self preservation more than anything — before it curled, floated, drifted and bent into the narrowest of openings in the far corner of the net, helping power Toronto FC to a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on a delightful evening for soccer enjoyed by an announced crowd of 23,979 at BMO Field.