The English Penalty Curse Strikes Again

By: Daryl | March 13th, 2008

Seems the crippling penalty shootout phobia of the England national team also extends to club sides. Both Everton and Spurs made impressive comebacks in their UEFA Cup second leg matches last night, only to blow it from the spot. Everton pulled back a 2-0 first leg deficit with an impressive 2-0 win over Fiorentina, but are out on penalties after Yakubu’s hit the post and Sebastien Frey saved Phil Jagielka’s. Fiorentina didn’t miss one.

Spurs had a similar evening. They traveled to PSV Eindhoven trailing 1-0, but clawed that back with a great goal from Dimitar Berbatov. And with Juande Ramos’ magic UEFA Cup touch, you’d think penalties would be no problem. But even Ramos’ luck was no match for the English penalty curse.

Jenas had a chance to win it for Spurs with the fifth penalty, but saw Heurelho Gomes save it. Then after Dirk Marcellis scored the first sudden death kick for PSV, Pascal Chimbonda stepped up to drag his shot wide. The whole torturous process is below, if you enjoy watching grown men suffer…

[video via 101 Great Goals]

For more on the Champions League’s little brother, pay a visit to UEFA Cup Offside.

Category: UEFA Cup

Tags: Dimitar Berbatov, Everton, Fiorentia, Jermaine Jenas, Pascal Chimbonda, penalties, penalty shootout, Phil Jagielka, PSV, Spurs, Tottenham, UEFA Cup, World Football, World Soccer, Yakubu

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Comments  

• Gabriella (ASR) |  March 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am

  
  
  

  I wonder if Montolivo was picturing Rooney’s face at his penalty…lol … Great night for Frey (although he had his hand in the first goal)

  Posted from United States

  

• James |  March 13th, 2008 at 10:53 am

  
  
  

  If there was a penalty shoot out between England and Mexico to see which curse was worse, Mexico would lose

  Posted from United States

  

• areallaticfromthesouth |  March 13th, 2008 at 11:16 am

  
  
  

  Can’t see a post on Chelsea’s 6-1 demolition of Derby and Frank’s achievement of becoming the first Premiership midfield player to score FOUR goals in a game. 17 so far this season and 107 career goals for Chelsea to date.

  But this is The Offside - never like to write good things about Chelsea!!!

  I can think of loads of other clubs to write bad about.

  Posted from United States

  

• Daryl |  March 13th, 2008 at 11:49 am

  
  
  

  Fair comment and all respect to Lampard, but I’m not sure Derby getting a thrashing counts as news anymore.

  I do like this painfully honest assessment from Paul Jewell though:

  “It was a world heavyweight champion against a lightweight. I spent the night squirming in my seat. They are a great team, and we are not.”

  Posted from United States

  

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