We can’t wait to see somebody give this a go at the World Cup…
Power and accuracy are also significant factors when it comes to taking a penalty, but probably the most important task of the kick-taker is to try and dupe the opposition ‘keeper and beat him in a battle of wits.
Some give a ‘keeper the eyes, some delay their kick until the very last second and wait for him to move, but arguably the most revolutionary tactic ever was employed by a Maldives player during a penalty shoot-out to decide their third/fourth placed play-off against Afghanistan in the AFC Challenge Cup last night.
We think but can’t quite clarify that the name of the trend-setter in question is Ashad Ali, but in the middle of his run-up he took a quite theatrical (and quite deliberate) tumble, before getting up and slotting the ball past a bemused Afghanistan ‘keeper. Possibly not knowing the rules because a penalty like this has NEVER (to the best of our knowledge at least) been taken before, the referee let it stand and Maldives went on to win the shootout 8-7.
Will anyone have the cojones to try something similar during the World Cup? We very much doubt it, but we’re not giving up hope all the same.
Hat-tip: 101 Great Goals
