David Villa managed to miss a sitter from 3 yards out against LithuaniaThe most grueling moments are the ones where we reach the closest to our destination and then snap out at the very last moment. Moments like those become the most haunted memories. So close, yet so far.In football, moments like these happen when the ball, inscrutably, fails to find the net. Either fantastic multiple saves or a divine intervention from the woodwork, the ball just somehow fails to cross the line and trouble the scorers.Fans are left bewildered as to how the goal never happened, even though it looked destined to. And here are 6 such instances that left fans wide-eyed.
#5 Lacazette v Lorient
Only God knows how Lacazette—or Lyon—never scored here. At first, Nabil Fekir tried his luck, in vain, by placing the ball to the bottom left corner, but he placed it too well as it hit the post and bounced to Alexandre Lacazette.
The in-form forward was, given his form, expected to score this one with ease, but his low driven shot was saved by the goalkeeper. The ball was gracious once again as it rebounded back to him and this time he leaped in an attempt to head the ball in, but the effort went in vain as Lecomte was in his way again as he managed to tip it onto the bar before he could finally claim the loose ball which came back of the post.
The final scoreline stood at stalemate which was a big achievement for the minnows.
#4 David Villa v Colombia
Another one of David Villas blunders. And this one is even unluckier than the previous one. As Iniesta slit open Colombias sturdy defense with a clever pass, David Villa received it with utmost grace, rounded the goalkeeper and hit it.
The ball didnt want to go into the net, though, as it hit the near post before falling back to the feet of David Villa to give him a second chance.
But, as it turned out, it was not to give him a second chance, rather troll him once again as this time he hit the far post while aiming into an open net from a relatively tight angle and from just 4-5 yards out.
#3 Karim Benzema vs Levante
This is perhaps the greatest goal that was never scored. As Cristiano Ronaldo launched an exceptional lobbed cross from the right, the Frenchman seemed to have overrun it by a yard.
But then he improvised and, oh my, what an improvisation that was.
As the ball was about to land behind Benzema, the former Lyon man produced a sensational backflip with his heel. The ball looked destined to hit the ceiling of the net, but destiny had only pain for both Benzema and Real Madrid fans as the cross-bar got in the way and denied what would have been one of the best goals ever scored.
And it didn’t end. As if to add salt to the wound, the ball, very frantically, rebounded to Benzema and the France number 10 hit it on the volley with his left foot, only to find him missing the target from 5 yards out.
#2 Fernando Llorente and David Villa vs Lithuania
David Villa is one of the most revered figures in football and was amongst the deadliest strikers in the world at a point of time. If he had the ball in the opponents box, the next common sight would be of the goalkeeper taking the ball out of the net.
But it wasnt always like that as even he had moments that he would prefer to forget and this is one of them.
As Joan Capdevila floated in a beautiful cross with Fernando Llorente as the intended target, the latter powered in a header that was saved by the goalie only for the ball to reach David Villas feet. The former Barcelona man then, with an open goal in front of him, shot the ball and rattled the post from 3 yards out, to the disbelief of everyone.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo and Hugo Almeida vs Argentina
As Cristiano Ronaldo burst his way through the left side of Argentinas defense, fans were almost certain that Portugal would take the lead against Lionel Messis team. Cristiano struck the ball with fury from a relatively good angle, only to see his shot saved by the goalkeeper.
The ball looked destined for the bottom corner of the far post, but the goalkeepers intervention didnt allow it. That was not all, though. In fact, that was nothing. As the ball bounced towards the far post, a chasing Hugo Almeida looked set to finish what Cristiano started as he was aiming for an empty goal from 3 yards out.
But, he did the unthinkable. He blasted the ball wide and left fans wondering whether he was Emile Heskey in disguise.
