Miss of the century! Complacent Argentina star chips Costa Rica goalkeeper and waits to watch his shot cross the line… only to see it cleared by defender who dashed back
Argentina star Nicolas Gonzalez will not want to watch his role in Wednesday night’s 3-1 win over Costa Rica anytime soon, after a horror miss late in the game.
The Albiceleste ran out 3-1 winners eventually in Los Angeles after goals from Angel Di Maria, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez in the international friendly meeting with Costa Rica.
It was very nearly an upset, with the less-fancied Los Ticos snatching an early lead through Spartak Moscow striker Manfred Ugarte in the 34th minute, with the world champions unable to respond before the break.
However a very strong Argentina side albeit without talisman Lionel Messi looked to their stars and they delivered with a 25-minute triple volley to seal the win.
It was very nearly four, too, with Gonzalez breaking clear down the left in the 90th minute, before he managed one of the misses of the season late on.
Nicolas Gonzalez pulled off one of the worst misses ever against Costa Rica for Argentina
HE was played through on goal late in the game and managed to lift it over Keylor Navas’ head
Nicolas Tagliafico played an inch-perfect ball over the head of Costa Rica defender Haxzel Quiros to send Gonzalez bearing down on Keylor Navas’ goal with the clock close to full-time.
The Real Madrid legend initially back-tracked towards his line before shooting out to close the gap to the Fiorentina forward, but ultimately was left stranded as the ball was lifted over his head.
An agonising Navas then turns to see Gonzalez bearing down on goal, but for some reason only he will know, the Argentine forward decides not to put the finishing touches on the ball as it creeps towards the line.
Unbeknownst to the Fiorentina star, Quiros had made a fantastic recovery, and with Gonzalez already veering off for the corner flag thinking he’d sealed the fourth goal, the right back came round the outside and hooked it clear off the line.
It was a fantastic, determined, bit of defending from Quiros, but he ought to have had no chance with Gonzalez massively culpable, and the look on his face following the clearance suggests he is all to aware of that fact.
Given the calibre of the miss – Gonzalez ran alongside the ball a good eight to 10 yards without tapping home – fans flocked to social media to voice their opinions.
One wrote: ‘Nico Gonzalez with the funniest miss I’ve ever seen.’
A second believed they were witnessing a piece of history, adding: ‘It would’ve been 4-1, but thanks to Nico Gonzalez for that miss of the century.’
Rather than apply the finishing touches to the shot he seemed to celebrate too early
Gonzalez was unaware that Haxzel Quiros was racing back to clear the ball off the line
The Fiorentina forward was left red-faced at his blunder, but fortunately it had no bearing on the result
Fans were quick to voice their shock at Gonzalez’s ‘miss of the century’ on Wednesday
One sympathised with Tagliafico for what would have been a sensational assist, writing: ‘Bro fumbled badly. Would be pained if I was the dude who did that pass.’
The fantastic recovery work from Quiros draw the eye of some, with one saying: ‘That’s a terrible play from Nicolas but great play from the defender.’
Yet one viewer was left fuming at Gonzalez’s complacency, asking: ‘Why would you not tap it in? Guy started celebrating before it had gone in.’
Gonzalez has five goals so far in his 31 appearances for the world champions, but was ruled out of their 2022 triumph in Qatar with a hamstring injury.
