Home
I've been actively losing sleep due to feeling bad for Rennes defender Jeanuël Belocian. A freak Belocian own goal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the 119th minute of Thursday’s Europa League playoff match tied the aggregate score at 3-3 and sent the two teams to penalties.
Shakhtar would win the penalty shootout 5-4.
Belocian turned 18 the week before Thursday’s match. The French youngster, who was born in Guadeloupe, just recently broke into Rennes’ first team. On Sunday he got his first-ever Ligue 1 start where he played the full 90 minutes. For the Europa League tie with Shakhtar he played the full length of both legs.
He was playing very well too.
This sport can be one of the cruelest and Belocian learned that in devastating fashion. The game went to extra time with Rennes leading 1-0 on the night but the aggregate tied at 2-2. Rennes scored in the 106th minute and just needed to hold Shakhtar off for 14 minutes.
Then this happened.
Belocian own goal vs. Shakhtar
A HORROR OWN GOAL DRAWS SHAKHTAR LEVEL. ♂️ pic.twitter.com/IVjNtDmBr9
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 23, 2023
The youngster couldn’t hold back the tears as the roughly 30,000 fans inside Roazhon Park looked on in despair. Belocian’s teammates did their best to console him and wipe his tears away.
Poor kid.
Rennes rallied around 18-year-old Jeanuël Belocian after his own goal. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5dqhbKwWex
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 23, 2023
Understandably, Belocian didn’t take a penalty kick. The shootout was a dramatic one that went to sudden death and saw seven rounds after Shakhtar blew a 3-1 lead.
The Ukrainian club advanced and will face Feyenoord in the Round of 16.
"They are fighting for their country. They are fighting for their club and they are through to the last 16."
A special, special night for Shakhtar in the #UEL pic.twitter.com/68jmZf0MKc— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 23, 2023
