Savour the saves

As Manchester United’s legendary keeper Peter Schmeichel heaped praise on current keeper David De Gea for his wonderful one handed save against Sunderland, calling it one of the best games he’s seen in the entire history of the Premier League, it certainly makes me think how a single save can define the rest of the game. With United trailing 1-0 at the Stadium of Light and trying to make inroads into a stubborn Sunderland defence, it is understandable they were always vulnerable to a counter attack by the Black Cats.

In the 34th minute, Adam Johnson broke down the left for Sunderland and centred the ball for the Italian winger Emanuele Giaccherini, who was left completely unmarked by the United defence. As soon as he flicked his neck to head the ball towards the goal, he turned around all set to celebrate Sunderland extending their lead. But he was denied brilliantly by the Spanish stopper, who was moving to his left on the goal line, and readjusted himself and flung his right hand at the ball and managed to send it out for a corner, much to the dismay of Giaccherini, and the delight of United players and supporters alike. And this save set the tone for United’s first comeback under David Moyes, as 18-year old starlet Adnan Januzaj struck twice in quick succession after the break, to give United the much needed 3 points.

It was the kind of save that just knocks the stuffing out of the opposition, and just sucks up their confidence. Not only that, it also has a positive impact on the defence itself, and gives a sense of assurance to them. There have been so many matches where a save has been the turning point of the entire game. The most recent example for me would be David Luiz‘s incredible clearance in the final of the Confederations Cup against Spain. Up 1-0 in the final against Spain, Brazil were in romping mood and Spain were terribly under pressure. And all of a sudden, Pedro Rodriguez finds himself one-on-one with Julio Cesar, and slides the ball underneath the QPR keeper, which looked destined for the far inside corner of the net. And all of a sudden, Sideshow Bob comes up with a sliding tackle, poor old Sol Campbell would be proud of. He slides towards the goal, and somehow manages to get his foot underneath the ball, and hook it over his own crossbar, and all the while he was facing his own goal. Just take a look and admire.

Had it gone in, it would have been 1-1, and that too a few minutes before half time. And what actually happened was that Neymar scored his side’s second just before the interval, and sent Spain into the dressing room 2-0 down, whereas it could have easily been 1-1. What an impact a single save can make! Brazil went on to win 3-0 and lift the Confederations Cup in front of a packed Marcana. And a large part of the credit goes to the Chelsea defender, who later said that he knew where Pedro was going to place the ball as he was a huge fan of his and followed all his games. One moment of magical defending, wins the final for Brazil.

Another one would be Watford keeper Manuel Almunia’s penalty save vs Leicester in the dying minutes of the second leg of previous season’s playoff semifinal. With the tie level at an aggregate score of 1-1, extra time loomed large. But Leicester were granted a penalty in injury time, which was a dreadful decision on the ref’s part. Almunia saved the penalty with his legs, and kept out the rebound as well and within 30 seconds, Watford had scored on the other end, which sparked crazy celebrations from everybody (almost) in the stadium. Watford were going to Wembley, which would never have been possible had Almunia not kept his cool and denied the Leicester winger from the spot.

There are many more examples where a save turns a match on its head or lays the foundation of a team’s victory. As a goalkeeper for my school football team, my coach always used to tell me when I felt bored between the goalposts, “A save is worth more than a goal. Not only it stops the opposition from increasing its score, but also gives our team another chance to score.” Ridiculously fundamental, but a great line. Ultimately it’s the goals put into the opposition’s net are what count, but it must never be forgotten that each goal prevented is equal, if not more than each goal scored. For me, it was Jerzy Dudek’s reflex double save from Andriy Shevchenko, from point blank range, in extra time which essentially won the Champions League for Liverpool in Istanbul. It absolutely killed the striker and his team’s morale, which later proved to be the decisive point in the penalty shootout. Probably this save was the thrust which lifted Dudek in the shootout, where he won the game for the Merseyside club, and etched his name into European glory.