Goalkeeper Apologises For Stuttgart Penalty Blunder
Zeeshan Mehtab Published December 13, 2016 | 08:10 PM
BERLIN, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Dec, 2016 ) : Australia goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak has apologised after his split-second slip led to his club VfB Stuttgart losing an important match and the chance to go top in Germany's second tier.
With time almost up, the Socceroos shot-stopper brought down Hanover 96's striker Kenan Karaman in the area, but then paused, thinking he had given away a penalty. In the meantime, Hanover's attack snapped up the loose ball and Felix Klaus was presented with a simple tap in on 87 minutes to seal their 2-1 away win.
The home defeat cost second-placed Stuttgart the chance to regain top spot in Germany's second division, having been relegated from the Bundesliga last season, while Hanover are third in the table.
"I trod on his (Karaman's) foot and thought that it was definitely a penalty, which is why I stopped," explained Langerak, who joined Stuttgart in July 2015 after five years with Borussia Dortmund.
"That split second made the difference. "My mistake cost us points and I'm really sorry for the boys." Stuttgart captain Christian Gentner was furious with his team for the slip. "If we want to go up, then we can't concede things like that," fumed the ex-Germany international.
But Stuttgart coach Hannes Wolf had sympathy for Langerak's plight. "Of course, it was a human error," said the 35-year-old Wolf. "He (Langerak) wanted to show that he hadn't committed a foul and so lost his focus on the ball, because he was worried the referee would whistle for a penalty. "Football is something decided by moments like this and that particular moment wasn't for us."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Sports
-
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
5 hours ago -
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
5 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
5 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results
7 hours ago -
Inaugurate of fitness gym at Ayum Stadium on 25th April
7 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
7 hours ago
-
Women’s One-Day tournament: Multan beat Rawalpindi, Quetta beat Peshawar, Lahore beat Karachi
7 hours ago -
Argentinian Etcheverry sees off Norrie to head into Barcelona Open semis
9 hours ago -
Pakistan all set to face New Zealand tomorrow
10 hours ago -
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
10 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
10 hours ago -
'All-or-nothing' Norris takes sprint pole in rain chaos at Chinese GP
11 hours ago