From Inter`s Beccalossi to Tunisia`s Unbelievable Six-Penalty Saga
Beccalossi, a name synonymous with penalty errors. This might sound like a light-hearted jest, but it was comedian Paolo Rossi who immortalized Beccalossi`s double miss within eight minutes during a 1982 UEFA Cup match between Inter and Slovan Bratislava, which Inter ultimately won 2-0. What seemed like an `amateur` mistake for Beccalossi was later overshadowed, not only by players like Dovbyk and Soulé – who incredibly failed to convert the same penalty three times in a recent Europa League game between Roma and Lille at the Stadio Olimpico – but most notably by Tunisian Olympic footballer Mohammed Jedidi.
The Marathon Penalty of Mohammed Jedidi
Mohammed Jedidi would never forget August 17, 2004. At the Athens Olympics, his Tunisian team faced Serbia in the football tournament. In the 83rd minute, with the score tied at 1-1, Tunisia had a golden opportunity to take the lead from a penalty. Jedidi scored, but Tahitian referee Charles Ariiotima disallowed the goal due to Tunisian players encroaching into the box before the kick. The penalty was ordered to be retaken. Jedidi scored again, but a new encroachment was flagged by the linesman. For the third attempt, Jedidi remained composed and beat goalkeeper Nikola Milojević, yet again the assistant referee`s flag went up for another encroachment, this time resulting in a yellow card for a Tunisian player. Mentally drained, Jedidi`s fourth attempt was saved by Milojević. At this point, all eyes turned to the referee and linesman, who determined that the goalkeeper had moved too early. A fifth penalty was awarded. Milojević saved it once more, but the saga continued. Despite Jedidi heading in the rebound for a 2-1 lead, a sixth penalty was given. The heroic Jedidi stepped up one last time, finally converted it, and the referee signaled for play to resume from the center circle. Incredibly, Serbia equalized four minutes later, but Tunisia ultimately secured a 3-2 victory in the 89th minute through Zitouni. Despite this epic penalty sequence, both teams were eliminated in the group stage, and the referee was sent home.
Giordano and D`Amico`s Serie A Misfortune
A similar incident to the recent Roma-Lille game at the Stadio Olimpico also occurred in Serie A. In the same stadium, on April 21, 1984, Lazio played Napoli. After Bruno Giordano gave Lazio the lead in the 30th minute, referee Agnolin awarded Lazio a penalty for a handball. Giordano took the shot, goalkeeper Castellini saved, but Giordano scored from the rebound. The goal was disallowed due to players encroaching. Giordano retook the penalty, and Castellini saved it again. Once more, the penalty was repeated. This time, Vincenzo D`Amico stepped up to the spot, but his shot went wide.
Could Giordano be compared to Dovbyk, and D`Amico to Soulé? Not exactly, as Lazio ultimately won that match 3-2 thanks to a brace from Laudrup. Football history is replete with missed penalties, from the famous errors by Baggio and Baresi in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil, to Trezeguet`s miss in the 2003 Champions League final between Juventus and AC Milan. As the saying goes, `to err is human, to persevere (in error) is diabolical.` A warning not to utter aloud in the company of Dovbyk, Soulé, or Giordano. As for Beccalossi? Don`t worry, he`s used to it by now.
