Identical to Lionel Messi earlier, Sergio Ramos made headlines in Mexico this week—however not for the proper causes. The legendary Spanish defender, who arrived at Monterrey earlier this yr, endured an evening that followers and pundits is not going to neglect any time quickly. What was anticipated to be a top-of-the-table conflict in Liga MX become a chaotic spectacle, one which left Ramos within the highlight for all of the mistaken causes.
At first, the whole lot appeared to go Monterrey’s means. In entrance of a packed Estadio Nemesio Diez, the Rayados seized management early on, opening the scoring within the tenth minute by means of German Berterame. The guests regarded sharp, assured, and able to show themselves because the dominant pressure in Mexico’s championship race. When a penalty was awarded lower than 10 minutes later, Monterrey had the possibility to double its lead. The captain stepped up—calm, collected, and with all eyes on him. That was the turning level.
Sergio Ramos tried a Panenka, the cheeky chipped penalty that has humiliated goalkeepers world wide. However as an alternative of glory, the second led to catastrophe. Toluca goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez stood agency, barely transferring because the ball floated tamely into his arms.
From that immediate, the whole lot unraveled. Within the span of simply quarter-hour, Toluca went from trailing to main 3-1, with targets from Jesús Angulo, Paulinho, and Nicolas Castro ripping by means of Rayados’ protection. By halftime, they had been clinging on at 4-2, and by full time, the scoreline learn a humiliating 6-2 defeat. Ramos’ missed penalty was the catalyst. What might have been 2-0 grew to become a collapse of confidence.
After the ultimate whistle, Monterrey coach Domènec Torrent didn’t mince phrases in regards to the influence of Ramos’ blunder. “We go away dissatisfied, as a result of we began the match very effectively. We had been superior throughout the first 20 minutes, taking part in effectively and creating possibilities, however after the penalty [that Sergio Ramos couldn’t convert], the whole lot modified. We went from being the snug, dominant workforce to the exact opposite. I don’t know if I’ve ever skilled one thing like this in my profession.”
Ramos underneath fireplace in Mexico
For Ramos, the missed penalty carries a heavy weight. It was his first failed spot kick since November 2020, when Switzerland denied him within the Nations League. Since then, he had transformed 4 straight penalties—till now.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Followers flooded social media with criticism and memes, some even reveling in his misfortune. “I discover it extremely satisfying every time I see a Panenka saved,” one consumer wrote on Reddit.
This wasn’t the debut season the veteran had envisioned. Regardless of scoring targets from protection and bringing expertise to the Rayados, the Spaniard now finds himself underneath a microscope, along with his management and decision-making questioned.
Messi and the Panenka curse
Apparently, Ramos isn’t the one famous person to have suffered from a failed Panenka this month. Simply weeks earlier, his former PSG teammate Lionel Messi missed the same try whereas taking part in for Inter Miami in opposition to Charlotte FC in MLS. Messi’s miss additionally sparked widespread criticism and contributed to a heavy defeat. It appears even the best aren’t proof against the dangers of the Panenka—an audacious gamble that may convey glory however simply as simply humiliation.
