Lille goalkeeper Berke Ozer produced an incredible performance as he saved three consecutive penalties to secure his team’s Europa League victory over Roma.
The drama unfolded late in the game after Roma were awarded an 80th-minute penalty for handball. Substitute Artem Dovbyk stepped up first, but his shot was stopped by Ozer. The referee ruled that the goalkeeper had moved off his line, so the kick was retaken.
Dovbyk tried again, and once more Ozer denied him. This time, however, the Turkish keeper was judged to have stepped forward too early, leading to a third attempt. The responsibility then fell to Matias Soule, but Ozer guessed right again and pulled off a third stunning save.
His heroics ensured Lille held on to their lead, which came from Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s sixth-minute strike. Roma’s hopes of snatching a point were crushed, leaving their manager Gian Piero Gasperini stunned.
“I’ve never seen three missed penalties in one match,” Gasperini admitted. “It was a unique and strange situation that changed the result.”
Ozer’s remarkable display will go down as one of the most dramatic penalty-saving performances in Europa League history.