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True goalkeeping class on display in Seville

What started out as, surely, one of the worst nights in Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Volkan Demirel’s memory soon turned into one of the best memories he will ever remember.

volkan%20demirelSevilla was better than Fenerbahçe on the night, 3-2. The three goals Sevilla scored were goals that any goalkeeper should be ashamed to let in. The first slipped through Demirel’s fingers, although he clearly had both hands on Daniel Alves’ free kick. The second was a long, arcing shot from Seydou Keita that, again, bounced out of both of Demirel’s hands and into the goal. On Freddie Kanouté’s marker, the Turkish goalkeeper dove the wrong way before the shot left his foot.

The teams were level 5-5 on aggregate and 2-2 on away goals. No goals in extra time set up the penalty shootout. After a shocking performance such as Demirel’s, it would have been easy to run and hide, but he stepped up for his club to make amends and made three saves in the shootout to send Fenerbahçe through to the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in their existence.

Goalkeeping is a fickle trade. However, Demirel showed the ultimate professionalism to come back from such a low to get to one of the highest highs of his career. I’ll be honest. When I saw the goals I thought “there’s no way this guy deserves to be a professional goalkeeper” but then when I saw the penalties, I was thinking the opposite. That’s the kind of professionalism and mental toughness that cannot be taught.

You’ve either got it or you don’t. And Demirel had it Tuesday night. Volkan Demirel: my vote for Goalkeeper of the Week.

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Posted on 03.5.2008 by Registered CommenterLiviu Bird in | CommentsPost a Comment

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