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Football

30th Oct 2015

VIDEO: Kansas City defender very, very unlucky not to see penalty go in

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Tom Victor

We’ve all had that discussion about whether penalties are really a lottery or whether it’s a matter of skill and not luck.

Those of us dismissing the luck element might have to think again after watching this spot-kick from Saad Abdul-Salaam in the MLS playoffs.

Sporting Kansas City defender Abdul-Salaam is yet to score a senior goal since making his professional debut earlier this year, but he’s unlikely to come closer.

The American club were taken to penalties by opponents Portland Timbers, and the American youngster had the chance to send his team into the Conference Semi-Finals in the sudden-death stage, only for this to happen…

Portland ended up winning the shoot-out 7-6, with goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey firing home the winning spot-kick.

They are now just three games from MLS Cup glory, and after this stroke of luck they may feel it is written in the stars for them.

“Off one post and then the other,” says the commentator, who goes on to describe it as “absolutely indescribable”. We reckon you nailed it the first time to be honest, don’t be so hard on yourself.

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