If this was in the UFC we’d be raving about it. Sadly it was in the Europa League and it left Gokhan Gonul with some very bad injuries.
While we were all absorbed in the battle between Chelsea and Basle the other Europa League semi-final was much more dramatic.
Trailing 1-0 from the away leg, Benfica won 3-1 in Portugal to book their place in Amsterdam later this month. But with the game poised at 2-2 on aggregate, a result that woiuld have sent the Turkish side through, they had to replace defender Gokhan Gonul after this horrific clash.
The defender bravely dived full length to head a cross clear but unfortunately Benfica striker Gaitan was trying to acrobatically volley the ball too. Gaitan kicked Gonul full in the face knocking the defender out cold and forcing him off the pitch.
Five minutes later the re-jigged Fenerbache defence conceded the decisive third by Oscar Cardozo.
Reports in Turkey suggest that Gonul suffered seven broken teeth and a broken cheekbone in the incident. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Cheers to 101greatgoals for the video.
