GUANGZHOU: Is it the worst football miss of all time?
Hapless Qatari teenager Fahad Khalfan’s amazing Asian Games blunder, when he managed to miss an open goal from one yard out, has become the reluctant star of the web after his howler against Uzbekistan.
“What a Qatarstrophe”, screamed British tabloid The Sun.
“This has to go down as one of the worst misses in football history.
Qatar’s Fahad Khalfan staked his claim to go down as one of soccer’s biggest blunderers with an appalling effort against Uzbekistan in the last 16 of the Asian Games.”
To add insult to the 18-year-old’s injured pride, the newspaper gleefully replayed the video of the player’s moment of horror which was compounded by the defending champions losing 1-0 in extra-time.
Khalfan had pounced when Uzbekistan goalkeeper Timur Juraev air-kicked an attempted clearance.
The Qatari striker then smartly dribbled the ball to the edge of the goal-line before incredibly stabbing his left-foot shot against the post, leaving his teammates stunned and the teenager completely bewildered.
“It’s a bad moment for him. He’s a young player and he’s got to forget it,” said teammate Mohammed Elneel.
“If he thinks about it then he can’t keep going in football or in his life. Every player makes mistakes. This is a big one, but that’s what happens.”
Khalfan found some sympathy from The Sun’s online readers.
“That shock in the lad’s eyes tells whole story,” said one fan.
“To be fair to the lad, he was unable to switch to his right foot at this speed, but still damn funny ...”
“I bet he will learn to use his right foot from now on,” said another.
“All left foot. He deserved to miss,” was a further damning verdict.
Even the Scottish Daily Record, whose diet of football news rarely extends beyond Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers, offered its verdict.
“‘Worst miss ever’ costs Qatar place in Asian Games quarter-finals”, said its headline.
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.