Have you ever wondered why the rule that forces goalkeepers to keep a foot on the goal-line during a penalty kick exists?
Well, an old video of Jerzy Dudek saving a penalty in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan has resurfaced on social media, serving as a prime example of why that is.
Warning, it's a hard watch.
Jerzy Dudek’s penalty save in the 2005 UCL Final is an exploiting nightmare
Penalty kicks are sometimes said to be a coin flip between the taker and the opposing goalkeeper. Nowadays, we see specialists like Jorginho creating new styles that increase the likelihood of their success, as well as keepers like Dibu Martinez who play mental games to increase their chances of saving the kick.
To each their own.
However, years ago — before rules forcing goalkeepers to stay on the goal-line were introduced — keepers around the world would save penalties in the most blatantly illegal way possible for a goalkeeper playing in 2023, and they were doing it without much worry. Dudek, goalkeeper for Liverpool in 2005, was guilty as charged.
The exploitative technique decided things like a Champions League final, by the way.
To this day I still believe Dudek stepped off his line.
Tight, but looks dodgey.— Barstool Football (@StoolFootball) January 26, 2023
And this was not the only penalty where he stood off his line. The Polish shot-stopper did this throughout the entire shootout and saved two spot kicks to crown Liverpool as champions.
Dida, Milan's goalkeeper, was free to repeat the technique, but the Brazilian was too naive to do so, ultimately leading to his team's defeat.
Seeing these types of situations with high stakes in play 18 years later, we’re glad goalkeepers’ ability to take advantage of their position has been regulated. Perhaps two decades too late, right Milan?
