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The best forwards are often remembered for the goals that they score; after all, it is the only thing that matters. However, there are often times when a forwards fails to convert an easy chance, but there is always a silver lining for them since these mistakes are soon forgotten, unlike, say, goalkeeper mistakes.
However, what is not forgotten are open goal misses. When a forward lines up to shoot at an open goal, they are more than expected to score. Indeed, it is harder to not score in such situations, but even then they miss… and that’s what the most awkward highlight of their careers becomes.
And here are 5 such open goal misses…
#1 Fernando Torres v Manchester United
Only a few football fans aren’t aware of this moment, and even then it would be shocking because this is perhaps the most famous open goal miss of all time. I am not a fan of Chelsea football club, neither do I adore Fernando Torres, but this moment almost left tears in my eyes just due to the helplessness that the Spaniard’s reaction depicted after the miss.
He was brilliant, playing his best game ever for Chelsea. And what a team to play your best game against in a Blue shirt—Manchester United. The Red Devils were leading 3-0 at half-time, but Torres was having a lively game.
At the start of the second half, he scored and ran back to restart the game. He was looking determined, ready to make amends for all the failures ever since making his move to the Bridge.
Maybe, just maybe, Fernando Torres was back. Finally. Every move he made oozed confidence, so when a Juan Mata through ball found its way to the former Liverpool forward, he dragged the ball away from David De Gea with his first touch to make it an open goal for him.
What happened next, however, became an image that froze in the minds of the viewers. With an empty net to aim at, Torres shot the ball with his left foot…and it went wide. He very next moment, the number 9 dropped on the ground with head and knees sunk in the ground, perhaps wondering what sins he had done to face such a fate.
It was an image of helplessness that perhaps still scars Torres. Life could have been so much more different for the Atletico Madrid forward had that gone in.
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Reims
Knowing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he might still be thinking that it wasn’t he who missed scoring in an empty net, but rather the open goal that missed him. In this game against Reims, Ibrahimovic made more highlights than some players do in an entire season.
After opening the scoring for PSG, Ibra dived to win a penalty but was denied by the keeper from the resulting spot-kick. After Marco Verratti was put through on goal and only had the goalkeeper to beat, the Italian slid the ball in for the Swede, who had the goal at his mercy.
For someone who scored a 35-yard overhead kick goal against England, this was easier than a walk in a park. However, to the dismay and disbelief of everyone witnessing, the former Inter striker dragged the ball towards the post.
His team-mates and then coach, Laurent Blanc, couldn’t believe their eyes. In the end, however, he did score a goal to give PSG a point at least.
#3 Diego Forlan vs Juventus
Diego Forlan is regarded by many as one of the greatest forwards to play the game. His time at Atletico Madrid and his exploits in the 2010 World Cup put him on the pedestal of the finest ever players, but he was not without dents in his past.
Manchester United fans might still have mixed feelings about him, some regretting ever signing him while some others regretting letting him go as quickly as they did. However, the one common ground they all have is their mutual agreement to a fact: Diego Forlan’s time at Manchester United was a highly forgettable one.
Indeed, when the highlight of someone’s time with a respective team is an embarrassing open goal miss, it speaks a lot about the travesty the said player had to face in that period. While playing Juventus in a pre-season encounter, the Uruguayan was clean through on goal after a mishap from Juventus goalkeeper and defenders.
With the goal at his mercy, all Forlan had to do was tap it in, but he somehow managed to do the impossible and placed it wide. Thank God that it was only a pre-season game.
#4 Edin Dzeko vs Palermo
Premier League fans know him for his less-than-wonderful time for Manchester City, but Edin Dzeko is a pretty wonderful striker by all means. He is aerially very strong, has a good first touch, is a nightmare for defenders in the box due to his immense physical strength and, above all, he is a great finisher.
However, this open goal miss against Palermo might make you believe that I am lying about the part of him being a great finisher. For this moment, he might have lost his senses as there is no other explanation for such an astounding and bizarre miss.
After midfielder Radja Naingollan drilled in a low cross of the Bosnian, the latter received the ball and was no more than three yards out of the open goal. He was definitely scoring, except that he might have mistaken himself for Palermo defender at that moment and dragged it so wide on the far post that it felt like he cleared the ball.
He made amends, though, as he went on to score two goals in the game.
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo vs Sheffield United
This was perhaps the worst match played by Cristiano Ronaldo in his entire career. The Portuguese is perhaps the best finisher in the world of football right now, scoring them week-in and week-out. Inside the box, he is deadlier than a crocodile in water and rarely misses even half a chance inside the box.
So when a ball reaches his feet inside the penalty box with an open goal 5 yards in front of him, you would put your house, money and everything that you possess on a bet that he would go on to score. 999 times out of 1000, you would win. If, however, you had put your money in this match, it would be that one unlucky time you would lose.
After missing an easy chance just 15 minutes earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo was looking for redemption. Ryan Giggs provided him with the chance to do just that as he drilled in a low cross from the right for a waiting Cristiano. The Portugal captain’s eyes got wide as he prepared himself to take the shot, he did—and he shot it over.
The commentators couldn’t believe it. Neither could Giggs or any of his team-mates. However, in the end, Wayne Rooney saved the day after scoring 2 goals to win the game 2-1.
