QARABAG scored one of the most bizarre goals in Europa League history – thanks to a Braga star’s free-kick fail.
The teams faced off in Portugal on Thursday night in the first leg of their knockout play-off.
Victor Gomez took on the ‘draught excluder’ role for Braga in the Europa LeagueX formerly Twitter / @footballontnt
He accidentally played all the Qarabag attackers onsideX formerly Twitter / @footballontnt
Abdellah Zoubir pounced to turn the ball inX formerly Twitter / @footballontnt
But the scores level at 1-1, Qarabag went back in front in baffling circumstances.
Yassine Benzia’s initial free-kick 20 yards out hit the wall before falling to Abdellah Zoubir who rounded the goalkeeper and bundled into the back of the net.
The goal, though, was initially ruled out for offside by the assistant referee.
But when VAR checked the replays, they found that Zoubir was played on by the ‘draught excluder’ lying behind the wall.
The role – deployed by Braga defender Victor Gomez – is designed to allow the wall to jump and not risk a sneaky free-kick taker sliding the ball underneath them.
However, it backfired for Braga when Gomez’s head was the closest Braga defender to his own goal line and therefore marked the offside line.
Zoubir, though, was in an onside position when the initial free-kick was taken.
Then with the wall landing from their jump and Gomez lying on the floor, he made the most of the freedom in the Braga penalty area to score.
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The referee was instructed to award the goal, prompting wild celebrations for the Azerbaijani team and their dedicated fans who made the 9,600km round trip to Portugal.
And those watching the Europa League action at home were left in disbelief.
One said: “The draught excluder playing Qarabag all onside. Classic.”
Another wrote: “It’s probably play of the year.”
A third added: “Hopefully teams will stop doing it now cos it is one of the most ridiculous things that has ever come into the game.”
And a shocked fourth simply commented: “No!”
Zoubir added his second and Qarabag’s fourth of the night on 69 minutes before Joao Moutinho grabbed an injury-time penalty to keep Braga in the tie, trailing 4-2 going into the second leg next week.
The initial free-kick hit the wallX formerly Twitter / @footballontnt
The referee initially put his arm up to signal offsideX formerly Twitter / @footballontnt
He overturned his decision after VAR had a lookX formerly Twitter / @footballontnt
The goal prompted wild celebrationsX formerly Twitter / @footballontnt