Own goal of the year? Goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha’s bizarre mistake gifts Galatasaray victory
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The fact that Strakosha’s blunder was the game’s only goal added further insult to injury.
Searching for the breakthrough with just under 25 minutes remaining, Galatasaray midfielder Olimpiu Moruţan floated a hopeful cross into the Lazio box.
Lazio full-back Manuel Lazzari instigated a series of unfortunate events by making a meal of Morutan’s delivery, slicing the ball to send it spiraling into the sky as opposed to clearing his lines.
Yet as gravity did its job, Strakosha failed to do his — the Albanian leapt casually to pluck the ball out of the air only to parry it straight into the left post.
As if taunting him, the ball ricocheted back into Strakosha’s outstretched gloves before nestling in the corner of the net, sparking rapturous scenes among the Galatasaray faithful in the stands.
Lazio toiled for an equalizer — Sergej Milinikovic-Savic squandering a golden opportunity to help spare his goalkeeper’s blushes just minutes after the own goal — but struggled to break down a resolute Galatasaray backline.
The home side weathered the storm, closing the game out to take the three points and send themselves to the top of Group E.
With the group’s other game between Marseille and Lokomotiv Moscow ending in a draw, Strakosha and Lazio find themselves at the bottom of the group following Matchday 1.
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