Soccer News of Wednesday, 13 March 2024

6 open net misses from top players after Ronaldo for Al Nassr vs Al Ain

Cristiano Ronaldo would not want to look back at his horrible open net miss for Al-Nassr against Al Ain in the AFC Champions League, partly responsible for their elimination.

He has scored many goals in his career, including many extraordinary strikes, and he would be wishing the crucial quarter-final tie against the UAE club was one of those days.

Let's look back at six top players who have missed glorious chances.

Top players with open net misses

1. Lionel Messi

Ronaldo's greatest rival, Lionel Messi, is human after all. The former Barcelona star produced one of the worst misses of his career for the club in 2017 against Eibar. Luis Suarez displayed unselfishness to play him on goal, and he could only put his effort wide with his right foot, with the opponent leading 1-0.

2. Erling Haaland

The best goal-scorers sometimes produce the worst misses. Erling Haaland had the chance to draw Manchester City level against United but blazed over the bar from the goal line. He scored an injury-time goal to wrap up the 3-1 win in the second half. Per PL Stats, he has the most big chances missed this season with 26.

How did Haaland miss that ????

Somehow the ball flies over the bar and United take a 1-0 lead into the break..

???? Stream #MCIMUN live: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x pic.twitter.com/WSAaeAT4SE
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 3, 2024

3. Robert Lewandowski

The Polish striker is devastating in front of goal but could sometimes be frustrating. He missed a tap-in from Serge Gnabry’s low cross against Paderborn in 2019. Per Fotmob, he later scored to win the game 3-2 for Bayern Munich and set a record of scoring in the opening six games of the Bundesliga season.

4. Sergio Aguero

The Argentina striker scored a hat-trick during Manchester City's 6-0 demolition of Chelsea in 2019, but he could have had more had he been able to score an empty net at the back post from Bernardo Silva’s cross.

5. Raheem Sterling

The experienced winger could be so good and, at the same time, so frustrating. During the one-legged UEFA Champions League knockout stage due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. He kissed from inside the six-yard box to equalise for City against Olympique Lyon. The French side scored seconds later to make it 3-1 and eliminate Pep Guardiola's side.

A moment Raheem Sterling will want to forget ????‍♂️

Just 59 seconds before Moussa Dembele put Lyon 3-1 up, Raheem Sterling had the chance to level things. He missed the open net from right in front.#UCL pic.twitter.com/Kb3s2Zr3b8
— SuperSport ???? (@SuperSportTV) August 15, 2020

6. Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres struggled for most of his Chelsea career after his £50 million British record transfer from Liverpool in January 2011. He missed an open net in the 3-1 loss to Manchester United in 2013 despite rounding the goalkeeper.