Europa Conference League keeper catches ball outdoors space however someway avoids crimson card
A Europa Conference League goalkeeper was able to avoid a red card after catching the ball outside of the box.
Petrocub shot-stopper Silviu Șmalenea was brandished a straight red card a couple of minutes into the second half after he caught the ball outside of the area. It looked cut and dry, until VAR intervened.
VAR officials were looking Başakşehir’s Philippe Kény, who was then deemed to have tripped a Petrocub defender in the build-up. The on-field official agreed and a few kick was awarded with Șmalenea’s red card, amazingly, overturned.
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“Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it,” one fan said on X, formerly known as Twitter, before adding: “Șmalenea’s got away without a red, even though he still would have caught the ball where he did if the defender hadn’t been tripped?”
“Petrocub’s GK having an absolute howler there,” a second joked before VAR’s intervention. They added: “Saved by the most accidental foul ever…”
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Petrocub had been 1-0 down at the time, with former Serie A star Krzysztof Piątek opened the scoring on Wednesday (November 27) from the spot – and it looked for a long time like the Turkish side would register their first win in 10 games.
However, largely thanks to the added time from the lengthy VAR stoppage, the Moldovan giants continued to push for a goal – and they finally made history in the 96th minute when an unmarked Ion Borș came off the bench to power home.
It was Petrocub’s first ever points in the Europa Conference League, while Başakşehir’s remain winless in their last ten games. Chelsea remain at the summit of the table, thanks to their goal difference.
