Luis Seijas fails embarrassingly with Panenka penalty as Venezuela midfielder spurns opportunity against Argentina

When your side are two goals down before half-time against a Lionel Messi inspired Argentina and you are handed a way back into the game from the penalty spot, logic would tell you to seize the moment while you can.

Step forward Luis Seijas. With Venezuela enjoying their first decent spell of possession just before the break, a rush of blood from Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero saw the referee point to the spot after he bought down Josef Martinez in the Copa America quarter-final clash.

Standing unnervingly, Seijas placed the ball and made his run, but the audacious effort spectacularly backfired, when his tamely chipped attempt down the middle, landed comfortably into the hands of Romero, who had not even bothered to adjust his position.

 

Venezuela’s Luis Seijas had the chance to get his side back into the game with Argentina but fluffed his chance

The midfielder can only watch as goalkeeper Sergio Romero gratefully catches the shot before half-time

The midfielder can only watch as goalkeeper Sergio Romero gratefully catches the shot before half-time

The Venezuelan runs up to take his spot-kick in the hope to deceive Romero from 12 yards

The Venezuelan runs up to take his spot-kick in the hope to deceive Romero from 12 yards

However, Romero didn't move from his spot as Venezuela's No 13 prepares to strike the ball 

However, Romero didn’t move from his spot as Venezuela’s No 13 prepares to strike the ball 

Romero's decision not to move proved the correct one as he prepares to catch the ball

Romero’s decision not to move proved the correct one as he prepares to catch the ball

Romero gets ready to resume the match as Seijas' miss begins to dawn on him as a chance wasted

Romero gets ready to resume the match as Seijas’ miss begins to dawn on him as a chance wasted

While the midfielder’s spot-kick was among the worst ever seen, credit must also go to Romero, who appeared to have done his homework and was not about to be embarrassed with such contempt.

‘I saw Seijas chip a PK vs Huracan and we saw it on the bus with Gustavo Piniero,’ he said.

Prior to that miss, Gonzalo Higuain had given Argentina a well-deserved lead in the Gillette Stadium with a brilliant brace and further goals from Messi and Erik Lamela eased the 2015 finalists towards a 4-1 win. 

Zinedine Zidane scored this audacious effort when he chipped against Italy in the 2006 World Cup final

Zinedine Zidane scored this audacious effort when he chipped against Italy in the 2006 World Cup final

Seen as one of the games’ most assured, even arrogant acts, the Panenka penalty (named after Antonin Panenka) has been performed correctly by a number of players over the years during some of football’s biggest matches.

With his usual swagger, the irrepressible Zinedine Zidane chose the 2006 World Cup final to effortlessly caress the ball over Gianluigi Buffon and onto the underside of the crossbar to give France the lead after just six minutes.

With England’s dour Euro 2012 quarter-final tie against Italy ending goalless, Andrea Pirlo stepped up during the shoot-out to deftly dink the ball over a diving Joe Hart and help send his side into the semi-finals.

Andrea Pirlo dinked this brilliant penalty past Joe Hart as Italy beat England in the Euro 2012 quarter-final

Andrea Pirlo dinked this brilliant penalty past Joe Hart as Italy beat England in the Euro 2012 quarter-final



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