Friday Fail: Goalie Gaffes

Welcome back to another Friday Fail here at sportsinvasion! Today, we are taking a look at one of the most unappreciated positions in all of sports: goalies. In hockey, these players often get a lot of credit or the blame for their teams success or failures. Not so much the case in soccer. I mean, how many people celebrated Iker Casillas for posting three straight shutouts to lead Spain to victory in the World Cup in 2010. However, very often, goalies are put in the spotlight for something negative, rather then a great save or play. Well, goalies all around the world, its time to look away.

The inspiration for this post is Ilya Bryzgalov, the goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers.  Bryzgalov led the Flyers to an unexpected upset of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that many  had pegged to win the Stanley Cup. However, his magic ran out in the next round, as they fell to the New Jersey Devils in 5 games. In the fifth and final one, Bryzgalov made a play that he will likely never let down. After having the puck played back to him, Bryzgalov took his time clearing the puck, and he paid the ultimate price. Check it out below.

 

Yeah…not exactly sure what he was going for there. The Devils would go on to win the game 3-1, leaving the Flyers scratching their heads. This got us thinking, what are some of the best/worst goalie gaffes of all time. Well look no further!

One of them easily comes to mind for me. Can anyone say Robert Green? If that’s not immediately bringing up the play, then let me explain. It was the USA vs. England in the 2010 World Cup. England had taken a 1-0 lead, and it wasn’t looking good for the red, white, and blue.  Clint Dempsey let loose a shot late in the first half that was destined for Green’s waiting arms, except that they didn’t end up there. Green ended up giving up one of the softest goals in World Cup history. Take a look.

 

Yeah, that’s pretty bad. But we want worse! We want the “what were you thinking” type stuff. Let’s look at another soccer clip. This one comes from the Belgian Pro League. After making an easy save, the keeper tries to throw the ball up field to get his offense going. Problem is, he forgot to let go of the ball.  Just watch.

 

I’m just curious to find out what he was upset about after the play! Was he blaming someone on the sideline for that mishap? No one really knows. But that’s not the worst. No the worst comes from one of the greatest hockey goaltenders of all time: Martin Brodeur. Brodeur had carried his Devils squad to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals where they faced off against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. In Game 3, he faced a rather pedestrian shot from mid ice, but drop a pretty important piece of equipment.

 

Thankfully for the Brodeur, the Devils went on to win the Cup. Had they lost it, this play would likely have gone down as the worst blooper in hockey history, and one of the worst of all time. Brodeur has another shot to add on to his legacy this year, as the Devils are waiting in the wings for the winner of the Capitals-Rangers series.

Well that does it for us. What are some of your favorite goalie bloopers? Show them to us in the comments!