Let’s be honest, divers ruin a lot of what’s great about soccer. Flops slow the game down, they win undeserved free kicks and generally just create more annoyance than enjoyment.
But sometimes, the diver’s acting is so unbelievably poor that the dive itself becomes a work of art. Usually, it’s some of the best players in the world that are doing the diving, which seems counterintuitive.
Nursing a 1-0 lead in the Liga MX final, Club América goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín knew what he had to do. After a sensational run by 20-year-old Cruz Azul midfielder Roberto Alvarado, the ball ended at the feet of Édgar Méndez.
Marchesín rushed out and took the ball off the feet of Méndez before he could get a shot off and potentially equalize in the 59th minute, and then the 30-year-old Argentine goalkeeper let Méndez have an earful. Referee Cesar Ramos rushed forward to separate the two, but in doing so, he gently touched the arm of Marchesín.
If I were to tell you that I’ve got a new highlight from Ricardo Quaresma to share, your first guess, of course, should be a ridiculous trivela from outside the area. That’s not what this footage concerns, but here’s that trivela goal against Iran that sent Portugal to the Round of 16 last summer.
Ricardo Quaresma's goal today vs Iran was straight pic.twitter.com/yapZd2r5hl
Today in the Turkish second division, second-place Denizlispor hosted league leaders Genclerbirligi at the Denizli Atatürk Stadium. With Genclerbirligi enjoying a five-point lead in the table, this was a massive week 15 match up.
However, the game would ultimately finish 0-0 after Denizlispor’s Burak Calik failed to convert this chance after dribbling around the keeper. His final shot was ultimately saved on the goal-line via an outrageous kick save. Genclerbirligi's going after that TFF First League title, baby!
From the creative studios that brought you Michael Bay movies and the Cavemen show, it's their latest and greatest idea — Europa League 2. Have you ever sat there on a Thursday, having watched the Champions League over the past two days, a bit let down from having to see Arsenal or Chelsea play some club you've never heard of and thought: "I wish this could be Watford at Qarabağ?" Yes? Well, you are in for a treat.
A closely contested Merseyside Derby was decided in the 96th minute after Divock Origi was on hand to head home the strangest of match-winners at Anfield. With Manchester City continuing to eviscerate the opposition, Origi’s dramatic miracle kept Liverpool within two points of the leaders, but what a truly miserable way to lose a match for Everton and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Real Madrid has had its ups and downs — mostly downs — this season since the departure of what’s-his-name. Fortunately for Los Blancos, their biggest competition in the Champions League group stage is having an equally tough go of it this season, which was perfectly embodied by a pitiful AS Roma miss from close range on Tuesday in Rome.
Since being instilled as manager of Ascenso MX side Dorados de Sinaloa back in September, Diego Maradona has gone on to record his finest achievement in professional coaching — even greater than when Argentina secured 2010 World Cup qualification on the final matchday and Maradona celebrated by telling reporters to “suck it and keep on sucking it” — by leading the second division side to the Apertura final.
Arsenal extended its unbeaten streak in all competitions to 17 with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth in Premier League action Sunday, and the game’s opener was one of our favorites from the month of November.
Jefferson Lerma — Bournemouth’s record $32 million summer signing — scored his first goal for the club against Newcastle United back on Nov. 10, but today, he was the unfortunate scorer of a banging own goal.
With 30 minutes on the clock, the Colombian laced a side-volley that flew past Asmir Begovic in goal. It’s a spectacular finish in every sense of the word.
Another day, another piece of evidence to file into the women’s soccer folder titled: “The World Is Catching Up With The USWNT.”