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A goalkeeper is one of the most important players in a football team. He/she is tasked with keeping out balls from going into the back of the net. Part of their job is to also organise the defensive setup during free kicks.
A goalkeeper has the advantage of seeing the full length of the field and decides where to distribute the ball. In football, we have seen exceptional goalkeepers who have gained a reputation for making brilliant saves.
Manchester United's David De Gea is a prime example of a top goalkeeper who has sacrificed a lot to keep his team in matches that they would have conceded or ultimately lost.
It is no surprise that he has been voted as United's Player of the Year on four of the last five seasons. At times, teams are exposed defensively and the goalkeeper becomes the final barricade between an opposing player scoring or not.
However, there are times that the goalkeepers have been at fault due to silly mistakes on their part. These five moments literally show goals that were gifted to the opposition due to the goalkeeper's lapse of concentration or poor judgement.
#5 Butland v Leicester City (2018)
Xhedran Shaqiri had given Stoke a 43rd-minute lead when he curled in a long-range effort at the King Power Stadium. Stoke managed to contain the wave of pressure by the home side until the Butland blooper. In the 70th minute, Marc Albrighton made a surging run on the right wing before hitting a hard cross.
Butland attempted to catch it but it bounced off his chest and into the net. The match finished 1-1. Stoke would have moved out of the relegation if they did not concede that equaliser.
England goalkeeper Jack Butland was at fault in February 2018 when he cost his team a point against Leicester City. His error enabled the Foxes to snatch a point and kept Stoke City in the relegation places of the Premier League.
#4 Valdez slip vs Manchester United (2017)
Marouane Fellaini's header and a vicious shot from Jesse Lingard had given United a comfortable 2-0 lead. The home side fought back through Rudy Gestede's goal in the latter stages of the match.
This set up a tense finale with Middlesbrough fans turning up the pressure as the team looked to force a draw. United did not look comfortable in defence since Gestede's goal. However, Valdez received a simple back pass and slipped just before he could clear the ball.
Onrushing Valencia stole the ball and easily guided it into the empty net. On December 31, 2016, Middlesbrough hosted Manchester United at Riverside Stadium in a league match. Experienced goalkeeper Victor Valdez, who had won the Champions League with Barcelona made a rookie error in stoppage time by gifting United right-back Antonio Valencia a goal.
#3 Ulreich blunder vs Real Madrid (2018)
Bayern Munich's Sven Ulreich did not give a good account of himself when he filled in for long-term absentee Manuel Neuer. The German side came into the second leg of this enthralling UEFA Champions League match needing to overturn a 2-1 loss suffered in Munich.
A goal each by Joshua Kimmich and Karim Benzema ensured that the scores were level at the break. Shortly after the restart, Ulreich received a simple back pass from Corentin Tolisso. He stood rooted for a while as he contemplated picking the ball up.
In that split second, he realised that it was against the rule book and attempted to clear the ball. He missed it and paved way for Benzema to score with a simple tap-in.
The match finished 2-2 on the night with Bayern eliminated 4-3 on aggregate despite dominating proceedings at the Bernabeu.
#2 Robert Green v USA (2010)
Green had a nightmare moment while representing his country, just before half-time when he fumbled Clint Dempsey's weak shot. Green got down to make what looked like a routine save but the ball somehow slithered past him to earn the Americans a 1-1 draw.
This result was significant as USA topped the group and avoided the wrath that fell upon England at the hands of Germany in the round of 16 .England went into the 2010 World Cup unsure of their first choice goalkeeper.
Inexperienced Robert Green was selected by manager Fabio Capello to start their opening match against USA. England captain Steven Gerrard had scored for the Three Lions within five minutes from the start.
#1 Karius double error vs Real Madrid (2018)
The 2018 Champions League final revolved around the battle for supremacy between Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian was looking to add to an already impressive season that saw him score over 40 goals. Liverpool looked to be in cruise control right up to the 30th minute when Salah had to leave the match due to a nasty shoulder injury.
This opened up another sub-plot for Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. After Salah's exit, momentum swung Madrid's way. In the 31st minute, Karius gifted Benzema a bizarre goal. He had all the time and space in the world to distribute the ball but chose to hurriedly throw the ball near the Frenchman's path. Benzema duly threw a foot out and intercepted it and the ball didn't need another touch to take it over the line.
Sadio Mane saved Karius the blushes when he equalised for Liverpool but the German was not done. With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, Karius fumbled substitute Gareth Bale's long-range shot which slipped through his hands and into the net. Real Madrid won the match 3-1 for their third consecutive Champions League title.
