Search icon

Football

03rd Dec 2016

Kevin De Bruyne’s abysmal open goal miss that cost Manchester City so dearly

How?... HOW?!

Nooruddean Choudry

We need to talk about Kevin.

With Manchester City leading 1-0, courtesy of a Gary Cahill own goal [below], the 56th minute saw Kevin De Bruyne miss an open goal from two yards out. Just four minutes later, Chelsea were level thanks to Diego Costa. Before long they were in the lead, thanks to Willian’s smart finish.

The moment was every bit as embarrassing and pivotal as it sounds. There is no conceivable reason as to why and how De Bruyne managed to hit the bar when it would have been far easier to score from Jesus Navas’ right-wing pass. But he did, and it was something else.

Chris Waddle summed up the watching public’s astonishment with his summation:

“I don’t know how Kevin De Bruyne managed to hit the crossbar there! Great cross from Jesus Navas and De Bruyne wrapped his foot around it, but he lifted it up, against the top of the bar and away. But that was an open goal, two or three yards from the goal.”

The game ended 3-1 to the visitors – we’re still not sure how…

Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10